[tor-relays] Re: Seeking Advice on Running a Tor Exit Node in India

[fjord via tor-relays <tor-relays@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri May 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM PDT, RUSTEDUSTED via tor-relays wrote:

> Could you please share insights on the legal responsibilities and
> potential risks involved with operating a Tor exit node in India?

I'm not Indian, but I've got some experience residing and working there.
(Mumbai and Bangalore mainly).

This is true for anywhere: if your plan is to run an exit node,
communicate this with your internet service provider first if they're
not on the Good ISPs list. 

Get their blessing on it, and try to address whatever concerns they may
have.  If it turns out that your particular ISP has never had a customer
run a tor exit node before, you're kind of an ambassador for the rest of
us.

https://community.torproject.org/relay/community-resources/good-bad-isps/

You will note there aren't any entries from India on this list.  It
would be nice to have one or two or three there but India is a tough
legal space.  I'd love to be wrong, but probably with the way things are
you will have a hard time finding an ISP who can & will take the heat
for tor exit nodes in India. 

You will probably have to run a tight exit policy (only forwarding
80/443 to start) if you get that blessing. 

If it's a big operator (ie Reliance) I'm sure somebody has tried running
an exit before, and it didn't work out.  Try searching, there may be
notes on that.  Therefore it's essential to reach out to your ISP before
even trying to run one for 5 minutes.

In India, IMO if you got the blessing, you should definitely set up
DirPortFrontPage (set up a webpage on your IP that explains what you're
doing and your cooperation with the ISP on it).  That should give you a
more defensible position if the police get involved with you later.

Not trying to scare you, but if we're ever going to succeed in India
this probably has to be as cooperative as it can possibly get.  That
said, my perspective might be years out of date...

Finally read these links if you haven't already, and join #tor-relays on
IRC to hang out with people who would be more helpful than myself. 

https://community.torproject.org/relay/

https://community.torproject.org/relay/community-resources/tor-exit-guidelines/

Regardless of the outcome, please share your experience(s) with this
list so that others that come after you can benefit.

Thanks for working on this!


fjord

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