German police have raided Article 5 eV, an organization that supports the Tor network, in an attempt to identify Tor users.
On August 16, 2024, German police raided the address of an individual registered with Article 5 eV, an organization that helps maintain the Tor network. Armed law enforcement officers spent almost two hours in the premises of a non-profit organization that manages the Tor network exit node. The leader of the organization, Gero Kün, claims that the raid was carried out to de-anonymize Tor users, but the anonymity of the network itself makes this unlikely. The Article 5 eV organization is a kind of outlet for encrypted user traffic on the Internet. Thus, it ensures that Tor works.
The Tor network is used for anonymous communication and access to the Dark Web, allowing users to maintain privacy by repeatedly redirecting traffic through different nodes (servers). Article 5 eV facilitates the operation of these nodes and ensures their stable operation. an organization that ensures their stable work. Gero Kyung said the organization intends to challenge the search in court and no longer wishes to use private addresses for its activities.
The raids underscore the strained relationship between law enforcement and organizations that support anonymity on the Internet. Article 5 eV plans to hold a meeting at the end of September to discuss how to proceed after the searches.