Russia has blocked access to Facebook and has limited
Twitter in an attempt to try to restrict the flow of information about its war
in Ukraine. Both companies have said they are working on restoring access to
people inside Russia even as they restrict the country's state media from their
services.
Known as an "onion" service, users can access this
version of Twitter if they download the Tor browser, which allows people to
access sites on what is also referred to as the "dark web."
Instead of .com, onion sites have a .onion suffix. Regular
websites, including Twitter.com, are also accessible on Tor, but the .onion
versions are made specifically for Tor and prevent the site from being spoofed
by malicious actors.
While the term "dark web" connotes illegal sites
such as the now-defunct Silk Road drug market, it is also often used by people
seeking to remain anonymous for their safety and also to access sites censored
by repressive governments.
Facebook and other sites such as the BBC also have versions
accessible on Tor. Twitter's version has been in the works for some time, since
before the Russian invasion, the company confirmed Wednesday.
Software engineer and internet security expert Alec Muffett,
who has worked with other companies to set up onion sites, announced Twitter's
new service on his own Twitter account.
"This is possibly the most important and long-awaited
tweet that I've ever composed," he wrote on Tuesday.
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