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WIP: Anonymous Network Workshop 2025/08

Recruiting staff to help organize the event!

  • We are organizing the "Anonymous Network Workshop" at the COSCUP Open Source Annual Conference on 08/09 ~ 08/10. We need to recruit partners, helpers, and event preparation volunteers before the event starts. If you're interested in this event and willing to help organize the workshop, please read the following instructions and find a suitable way to join us!
  • Registration information for event participants is expected to be established and updated on this page in July 2025.

Workshop Registration

Preparation in Progress…

  • The workshop is currently in preparation. We expect to promote and open registration in early July 2025. If you arrive at this page early and want to register, you can join the group email to receive our registration notifications instantly!

Preparation Team

This time, we will have a one-day track to conduct the workshop. Although COSCUP has not yet announced which day we'll be assigned, it does not affect the pre-workshop preparations. We will continue with the format of the workshop hosted by the Tor and OONI teams in February 2025, with the only difference being localized adjustments and conducting it in Chinese. Currently, we need the following roles, each of which can be cross-participatory. You only need to have basic skills, and there will be training activities to enhance them.

  • Event Organizer

    Assist with event registration, notifications, promotion, and venue setup on the day of the event.

  • Workshop Helper

    Need to understand basic knowledge of Tor, Tails, and OONI, assist participants with questions and guidance during the workshop, and help plan and prepare workshop course materials.

Registering Staff

This workshop requires "Event Organizers" and "Workshop Helpers". There is no restriction to choose only one to participate, as long as your schedule permits and you wish to help organize the workshop, you are encouraged to take this opportunity to join! Please follow these sample questions to apply, and feel free to add more or reply directly to the newsletter if you heard about this event through it!

- Nickname: (How you want to be called or displayed)
- Self-introduction: (Quickly introduce yourself. If you've participated in previous activities, feel free to mention them to help us recall!)
- Role you want to apply for: [ ] Event Organizer, [ ] Workshop Helper.
- Things you can contribute and gain from the workshop: (Tell us to avoid arranging unenjoyable tasks for you!)

Send your application email to: OONI Research Team <ooni-research@ocf.tw>, looking forward to and thanking you for your participation!

Event Organizer

The preparation period for the workshop runs from May 2025 to early August 2025, about three months. During this period, we need organizing staff to help arrange promotion, registration, notifications, venue coordination, and other matters related to the workshop. The event will be held at the Taiwan University of Science and Technology Yan Yang building classroom（國立臺灣科技大學 研揚大樓）. The exact event day has not yet been announced; it may be known on July, 09th when the conference schedule is published.

Schedule

Month Goal
2025/05 Build the preparation team, recruit helpers and staff.
2025/06 Complete course translation and localization design.
2025/07 Event promotion and registration.
2025/08 Event day execution, post-event records, and notifications.

Monthly Tasks

  • Announcement Start recruiting staff and helpers for the workshop.
  • Notification Workshop preparations have begun, welcome to join!
  • Confirmation Online kickoff meeting in May.
  • Materials Translate Tor/Tails presentation.
  • Announcement Preparation progress and ongoing staff recruitment.
  • Confirmation List of staff and helpers.
  • Materials Details of Tor/Tails workshop course.
  • Materials Details of OONI workshop course.
  • Feedback Provide course and material design feedback to Tor/Tails, OONI teams.
  • Announcement Workshop course content and registration method.
  • Notification Registrants' event attendance and timing.
  • Production Print a small number of flyers to be placed at OCF booths and bulletin boards.
  • Confirmation Tasks of staff on the event day.
  • 🌟 Execute the event day.
  • Announcement Post-event report article.
  • Notification Feedback from registrants and suggestions for continued participation after the event.
  • Feedback Provide feedback to the Tor/Tails, OONI teams about the event records.

Register for "Event Organizer"

Workshop Helper

The workshop is expected to offer two courses:

  • Tor, Tails Anonymous Network

    Participants are expected from the media, independent investigative journalists, civic groups, human rights defenders (HRDs), and the tech community. Assist in understanding how to enhance privacy protection capabilities on personal computers through Tor and Tails.

  • OONI Network Interference Observation

    Assist in using OONI's observed data to monitor network interference or large-scale internet outages in the Asia-Pacific region and help collect observation data and update the website inspection list.

Tor, Tails Anonymous Network

Help participants understand how the Tor anonymous network works, what the Onion network is, and how to use the Tails USB operating system. What are the usage scenarios? To become a helper, one needs the following basic capabilities, which we plan to train everyone up to Basic L3 level.

Tor Skill Levels
  • Understand what Tor is.
  • Understand why internet freedom is important, and what anonymous networks are.
  • Is the internet in Taiwan free?
  • Current internet conditions in neighboring countries.
  • Understand how Tor browser connects.
  • Types of Tor bridges: Bridge, Snowflake, WebTunnel.
  • Use cases and timing for each connection.
  • Can you connect to Tor via VPN?
  • Install the Tor browser and use it for at least one week.
  • Connect to the Tor network via direct connection and bridge connection.
  • Operate switching current connection paths.
  • Connect to .onion domain.
  • Clearly understand what Tor, Onion, and Tor Browser each refer to in terms of technology.
  • Use the Snowflake browser add-on to set up a Tor bridge.
  • Start Tor and connect via SOCKS v5.
  • Use metrics.torproject.org to query relays in Taiwan.
  • Establish a Tor Relay.
  • Set up a Tor Bridge.
  • Create a WebTunnel relay.
  • Build a .onion website.
Tails Skill Levels
  • Understand what Tails is and how it works.
  • Understand why internet freedom is important, and what anonymous networks are.
  • Is the internet in Taiwan free?
  • Current internet conditions in neighboring countries.
  • Understand how to install, make a Tails USB system.
  • Know how to set a computer to boot from USB.
  • Which types of Mac computers cannot use Tails.
  • Usage scenarios and limitations of Tails.
  • Install Tails, and use it for at least one week.
  • Establish persistent storage.
  • Use Bridge configuration for Tails network connection.
  • Share files using OnionShare.
  • Use Thunderbird to set up reception and sending for a Gmail account (IMAP protocol).
  • Update Tails to the latest version.
  • Understand MAC address anonymization.
  • Backup persistent storage.
  • Use the KeePassXC password manager.
  • Create encryption keys and encrypt files using GnuPG and Kleopatra.
  • Send encrypted mail to ooni-research@ocf.tw via Thunderbird (refer to Stay Updated for public keys).
  • Secure file deletion procedures.

OONI Network Interference Observation

Help participants understand the content of OONI observation data, how to use the OONI Probe application to provide observation results, and how to interpret online observation data. To become a helper, one needs the following basic capabilities, which we plan to train everyone up to Basic L3 level.

OONI Skill Levels
  • Understand what OONI is.
  • Understand what network surveillance and censorship are.
  • How OONI tests operate.
  • Differences in network surveillance and censorship between Taiwan and other countries.
  • Install and use OONI Probe to generate test reports.
  • Can you use OONI Probe with VPN?
  • Risks of using OONI Probe.
  • How ASN Autonomous Networks work.
  • Use OONI Explorer to organize Taiwan's observation data for the past six months.
  • Compare observation data for three countries using OONI Explorer.
  • Review current internet blocking reports.
  • Create an OONI Run test link and find the online report content of that link.
  • Start OONI Probe using command line.
  • Understand how website observation lists are compiled.
  • Sort and analyze data using raw observation data.
  • Assist in compiling and correcting lists.

Register for "Workshop Helper"

Round-Table

schedule
The proposed itinerary for the two event days.

We successfully secured a two-day schedule for this event. The workshop is planned for the first day (09, Aug.) from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. The remaining time on the first day, as well as the entire second day, will be conducted in a round-table format. We will discuss topics related to anonymous networks, internet censorship, and open-source tools. We have preliminarily planned three main categories with six discussion topics, covering current status, technology, and community collaboration. The target participants are members from the news media, independent journalists, civic groups, and the open-source technology community. The aim is to discover issues and reach consensus on solutions through discussion.

Each round-table discussion is expected to have no more than 25 participants. We'll assign 1 to 2 facilitators and 1 note-taker per session.

Before the event, we will invite those who are interested in the topics or roles to become facilitators. If you, or someone you recommend, are interested, please let us know so we can send an invitation and get them involved in the discussion!

Roles and Functions
  • Facilitator: Responsible for leading the meeting and ensuring the agenda proceeds as planned. The facilitator manages the pace of the discussion, maintains time management, and ensures that every participant has the opportunity to speak. They promote effective communication to achieve the meeting's objectives.
  • Participants: Actively engage in discussions, sharing their perspectives and opinions, and contributing constructively to the decision-making process. Through brainstorming, they aim to identify the best solutions or resolutions.
  • Note-taker: Records key points, decisions, and action items discussed during the meeting in detail. They are responsible for organizing and distributing the meeting notes to relevant parties post-meeting, providing accurate records for follow-up and implementation.
  • Observers (optional): Attend the meeting to evaluate the topics and processes, but they do not actively participate in the discussion or decision-making. They offer independent perspectives for post-meeting reflection or improvement suggestions.
  • Experts or Consultants (optional): Provide expert opinions and technical knowledge, offering actionable advice on specific issues or topics. They assist decision-makers in making more precise and effective decisions in technical or specialized areas.

Proposed Discussion Topics

Currently, we have initially planned three main categories with six discussion topics. These may be adjusted when facilitators join, or the discussion may follow the topics set by the facilitators.

Intersection of Open-Source Technology and Anonymous Tools

"The Open-Source Foundation and Local Participation Possibilities of Tor/Tails/OONI"

  • How do these tools operate? What free software and open-source protocols do they adopt?
  • In what aspects can Taiwanese developers or cybersecurity researchers participate? (e.g., translation, bug reporting, creating tutorials)
  • How can we reduce the "technical distance" to encourage more people to contribute?

"From User to Contributor: How Taiwan Can Establish Community Nodes and Feedback Models for Tor/OONI"

  • Does Taiwan have foundational nodes like Tor relays or OONI probes? How are they functioning?
  • What are the practical technical, administrative, and legal challenges? (e.g., hosting costs, blockages, legal concerns)
  • Can we operate and mentor newcomers through a community approach?
Social Connection between Open-Source Spirit and Internet Freedom

"Free Software and Digital Rights: Why Is Open Source Key to Anonymous Tools?"

  • Why is open source important for journalists and civic groups? How can trust in these tools be established?
  • Explore core values such as "verifiability," "censorship resistance," and "community governance."
  • Open-source vs. closed commercial cybersecurity tools: How should we choose?

"How to Localize an Open-Source Anonymous Toolkit?"

  • From everyday browsing (Tor) to operating systems (Tails) and internet monitoring (OONI), what other open-source tools can be included?
  • What does the toolkit look like? (e.g., Live USB image, local language packs, manuals)
  • Launching a "Taiwan version" of a simplified kit (suitable for NGOs, journalists, beginners)
Local Community and Collaborative Practices

"Promoting a Decentralized, Open-Source Collaborative Anonymous Network Initiative"

  • How can we delegate tasks if we use a civic tech community and open-source community collaboration model?
  • Can we establish an "Open-Source Maintenance Team" (working group model) to maintain Tor/OONI servers and regularly test ISP blocking conditions?
  • What non-technical roles (e.g., design, translation, instructors, writers) can participate?

"Potential for Regional Open-Source Collaboration: Connecting with Other Anonymous Network Communities in Asia"

  • In regions like Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and South Korea, there are similar open-source anonymous projects or promotion teams.
  • Can cross-border collaboration be established? For example, collaborating on the translation of OONI test results or co-authoring educational materials.
  • Can Taiwan become a connection hub? (Given its security, freedom of speech, and technical community presence)