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New Hampshire Library Rejects DHS Fearmongering, Turns Tor Back On

from the congrats! dept

Wed, Sep 16th 2015 9:16am — Mike Masnick

Last week, we posted the story of how the Kilton Public Library in Lebanon, New Hampshire, had been pressured to turn off its Tor relay after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had reached out to the local police department to express concern over the library's decision, and freaking out because "criminals can use Tor." After being approached by the police, the library agreed to shut down the relay, while setting up a meeting to discuss if the library should turn it back on. Apparently, last week's press attention helped bring out lots of folks who very strongly supported turning Tor back on.

Boston librarian Alison Macrina, who runs the Library Freedom Project and helped the library set up Tor in the first place, was tweeting up a storm last night, and it sounded like a lot of people showed up to make it clear that (1) the DHS could go pound sand and (2) the library should turn its Tor node back on:

This is just about my favorite thing ever. pic.twitter.com/7qqSV3snqr
— Alison Macrina (@flexlibris) September 16, 2015

Multiple people apparently spoke about how this is absolutely the kind of project that libraries should support, and that protecting anonymous browsing was an important thing to have in the world. And, in the end, success:

#KiltonLibrary WE'VE DONE IT. THE KILTON LIBRARY WILL TURN THEIR #TOR RELAY BACK ON!!!
— Alison Macrina (@flexlibris) September 15, 2015

This is amazingly good news, and as Macrina noted after: "This was a public referendum about privacy, free speech, and what libraries do." And all three of those things came out winners.

Oh, and even better: it appears that the publicity around this and the success last night may be inspiring other libraries to set up their own Tor relays as well.

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Filed Under: alison macrina, dhs, law enforcement, library, police, tor, tor relay
Companies: kilton public library

27 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:26am

>may be inspiring other libraries to set up their own Tor relays as well.
I think that's the most likely reason DHS was so concerned. Just like widespread encryption, widespread anonymity will become impossible to contain any longer.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:30am

Now we wait and see if the DHS tries the heavy handed approach to get what they want now that the library has spurned what they demanded
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:34am

Can anyone confirm if this is an exit node or just a middle relay?
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Baron von Robber, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:38am

The DHS probably thinks Dewey Decimal Codes are encryption and must be put to an end.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:40am

DHS will prob end up screwing them over via USAC.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:46am

bloody good for them!
now wait and see something like an FBI engineered terrorist plot reach fruition, even though that is nothing, but the Tor Library will get the blame!! not come across any government or it's security forces that go so far to try to get exactly what it wants as far as surveillance on the ordinary people! absolute scandalous!!
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anonymous me, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:48am

Re:
Hello, Barbra!
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mcinsand, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:49am

if the 'S' in DHS really stood for security
If the DHS was actually about security, they would be pressuring everyone to use Tor. Yes, criminals use Tor, but what is more dangerous is that criminals also use any weaknesses in our information security. The more encrypted and anonymous we non-criminals are, the more difficult it will be for criminals to identify possible targets.
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scotts13 (profile), 16 Sep 2015 @ 10:27am

Re:
Yup. Same as everything else the feds want states (and down) to do - withhold any federal money until they comply.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 10:37am

Re: if the 'S' in DHS really stood for security
but what about that whole "if you have nothing to hide/fear" thing?
what is it you are trying to hide from the bad guys?
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 11:24am

Re:
Middle relay but there are plans to upgrade it to an exit relay.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 11:39am

Re:
Widespread anonymity will be expensive for them since they can save money by having machines do the work. It is the modern political fallacy: Save money and you have more wiggle-room for your ideological projects!

Good old-fashioned targeted surveillance and spy-activity are the alpha and omega of investigations and the old methods still works with encrypted traffic and can get around almost all precautions from paranoid users.

The fight against anonymity is a pyrrhic battle for everyone: If the services lose they have lost a lot of trust, but if they win they are losing their primary objective: To protect!
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Derek (profile), 16 Sep 2015 @ 12:12pm

Bravo
Bravo. 'nuff said.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 12:24pm

Whats the Difference
The library books can also be be used by criminals. Why didn't DHS contact the local police to start a book burning.

Congratulations to the library, glad they stand on principle.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 12:31pm

Re: Re: if the 'S' in DHS really stood for security
Mother's maiden name, last four digits of social security number, bank account number.

OMG, I have something to hide! I guess I need to fear.
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Web_Rat (profile), 16 Sep 2015 @ 12:31pm

DHS Logicspeak
Let's follow along and further apply the logic used by the DHS.

The library needs to remove all newspapers because coded messages may be placed by people with criminal intent.

The library needs to remove all science, technology, and historical references because the information may be used by those with criminal intent.

The library needs to remove all dvds from circulation because they may be loaned to people with the criminal intent of copying them.

The library needs to remove all public access copy machines because they may be used by people to duplicate copyrighted materials.

Better yet, close the library, DHS can proclaim another potential terrorist attack was thwarted.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 12:46pm

Re: Re:
>Middle relay

Then the value is mostly symbolic. I expect the DHS to double down if they ever try to add exit functionality.
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PRMan, 16 Sep 2015 @ 1:39pm

My thoughts
Live free or die!
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 1:45pm

any indication of when the librarians will be arrested and charged with terrorism?

they must be up to no good, wanting to use encryption!
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 3:19pm

Re:
Windows 10.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 3:55pm

No toys for you
Well the library security can forget about getting those bullet proof vests and grenade launchers now.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2015 @ 9:04pm

I'm glad the library didn't get bullied around.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Sep 2015 @ 3:32am

Yay!
Live free or die.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Sep 2015 @ 4:00am

Not so much about anonymous browsing as it is protecting yourself from people who dont respect boundaries

Not something to hide as in more of a "its none of your godamn fucking business WHAT i do" so long as i respect the rights of others

Invasion of privacy is not respecting the boundary rights of individuals, therefore those that do invade, have no right complaining about those that expose them, those that are angry at them, and those that complain about them

Certainly no right to make up extreme laws that are obviously gonna be turned on these very people

Make action>Upset people>People ask for change>Create extreme law>"Subdue" upset people

Their opposition is born from their very actions, instead of stopping the action, their willing to force people to comply
.......which makes the initial action pale in comparison to the realisation of the motives of those running things......certainly not freedom, certainly not "democracy"
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Aussie Geoff (profile), 17 Sep 2015 @ 4:18am

Aren't you misquoting the DHS's motto - Die Free Or Live"?
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trevor999 (profile), 18 Sep 2015 @ 3:49am

Based on DHS's logic, all books on the following subjects should be banned (burned?)
Engineering
Anatomy and Physiology
Chemistry
Firearms
Religion (except of course Christianity)
Electronics
Military subjects
The Law and Civil Rights

since these subjects, and others, could be used by criminals and terrorists to their advantage.
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Gabriel (profile), 29 Sep 2015 @ 9:09am

Re: federal money
New Hampshire already has a strong tradition of rejecting federal money with too many strings on it; witness their lack of an adult seat-belt requirement despite the cost to their roads budget.

If they were several hundred miles farther south I'd definitely live there. I just can't deal with that much winter.
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