Welcome to Revise and Resubmit, where today’s episode of Weekend Book Review dives into a subject that sits at the crossroads of privacy, power, and technology—Tor: From the Dark Web to the Future of Privacy by Ben Collier. This isn’t just a book about the dark web. It's a biography of Tor itself, a tool initially crafted in the 1990s by engineers at the U.S. Navy Research Lab for anonymous communication. But as Ben Collier reveals, Tor’s journey is a winding path through worlds of engineers, activists, and the global digital power structure.
Ben Collier, a Lecturer in Digital Methods at the University of Edinburgh, blends years of research with voices from Tor’s own community—developers, activists, and early pioneers. He paints a complex picture of Tor: from its military origins to its repurposing by activists and its role in creating new, autonomous worlds on the internet’s hidden corners. This is a story about more than technology; it's about clashing visions for the future of online privacy and the internet itself.
Collier’s narrative challenges us to think about where Tor fits within our own online experiences, as well as its implications for a world where privacy is both fiercely guarded and easily compromised. Can a technology like Tor remain neutral, or does it inevitably become a player in global politics?
We extend our gratitude to Ben Collier and The MIT Press for this essential contribution to understanding privacy in our digital age. Be sure to subscribe to Revise and Resubmit on Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, and Apple Podcasts, so you never miss an episode.
Reference
Collier, B. (2024). Tor. In The MIT Press eBooks. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14907.001.0001
Open Access Book Link
https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5761/TorFrom-the-Dark-Web-to-the-Future-of-Privacy
Youtube channel link
https://www.youtube.com/@weekendresearcher
