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by Sterm 1057 days ago
This is the point where you need to check your privilege. I used tor when living in a dictatorship to find out things which would destroy the moral fabric of society, such as information about lgbtqia+ issues, what condoms are, pop music and news that the government didn't want to spread.
2 comments

I'm sorry you had to live through that, and I'm glad you had tools to subvert that oppression. I'm relieved that it sounds like you've escaped from that situation.

It was not my intent to assert any privilege, and it was my intent to acknowledge that scenario. If I may provide some clarification:

Marriam webster[0] defines 'double edged sword' to mean

> something that has or can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences

The use of Tor in the scenario you describe is one of the two blades (edges) I was referring to in my use of 'double bladed sword' -- the altruistic use case for which Tor absolutely should exist

The other side of the blade however, it's also used to facilitate terrible acts of abuse, notably to children (as demonstrated by the article) -- the destructive use case for which Tor absolutely should not exist.

It leaves Tor in a morally ambiguous place to me. It's not inherently bad or good. There are situations where it can be used for great good, and others when it can be used for great evil. Those situations would exist with or without Tor. I don't know if I should be thanking anyone maintaining it any more than I would thank an arms dealer.

[0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-edged%20sw...

> The other side of the blade however, it's also used to facilitate terrible acts of abuse, notably to children

How do we know you are not hosting CP?

Seems like the only way to really be sure is to make random raids on everyone and confiscate their equipment for a while.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. Can you rephrase, please?
Would a VPN not have sufficed as well? Tor seems like overkill for what you're describing.
How does one pay a VPN when your country is under sanctions?
Get someone to sell you some euro and mail it to Mullvad.