Why Major Organizations Run .onion Services
Running an official .onion hidden service is not a niche privacy experiment — it is a deliberate infrastructure decision by organizations that recognize the importance of censorship-resistant access. For news organizations operating in authoritarian regions, an .onion address ensures that readers can access reporting even when governments block or filter the clearnet domain. For technology companies, it provides users with an additional layer of protection against surveillance and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Every .onion address listed below has been verified against the organization's official clearnet site, public announcements, or published documentation. Unlike anonymous hidden services, these mirrors are operated by known, accountable entities with reputations to protect.
News & Media
BBC News
The BBC launched its Tor mirror in 2019 to provide access for audiences in countries where BBC content is censored or blocked. The .onion version includes all BBC World Service content, including editions in Russian, Farsi, Arabic, and other languages targeted by state censorship.
BBC News — Official .onion
The New York Times
The NYT was one of the first major news organizations to deploy an .onion service, launched in 2017. The Tor mirror provides full access to NYT journalism, including subscriber content, without exposing reader browsing habits to network observers.
New York Times — Official .onion
ProPublica
ProPublica was the first major news outlet to launch an .onion site in 2016. As an investigative journalism nonprofit, ProPublica's commitment to Tor access reflects its mission of holding power accountable — particularly when that power attempts to surveil or restrict press access.
ProPublica — Official .onion
Deutsche Welle
Germany's international broadcaster provides Tor access for audiences in regions where DW content is censored, particularly in countries with restricted press freedom.
Deutsche Welle — Official .onion
Technology & Privacy
Facebook's .onion service, launched in 2014, was the first major social platform to deploy a hidden service. It allows users in censored regions to access Facebook without revealing their Tor usage to local network operators. Facebook even obtained the first-ever HTTPS certificate for a .onion domain.
Facebook — Official .onion
The Tor Project
The developers of the Tor network naturally operate their own hidden service. Access the official Tor Project website, documentation, and download pages without relying on the clearnet.
Tor Project — Official .onion
ProtonMail
Swiss encrypted email provider with a dedicated .onion service that eliminates exit-node exposure when accessing your inbox. For a detailed review, see our Services Directory.
ProtonMail — Official .onion
Government & Intelligence
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
The CIA launched its .onion service in 2019 to allow people worldwide to securely access CIA.gov content and submit tips without surveillance exposure. The hidden service provides the same content as the clearnet site, including the World Factbook and career opportunities.
CIA — Official .onion
Archives & Knowledge
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive's Tor service provides censorship-resistant access to the Wayback Machine and its vast digital library of books, websites, software, and media.
Internet Archive — Official .onion
Debian
The Debian GNU/Linux project operates .onion mirrors for its package repositories, allowing users to update their systems without exposing their software configuration to network observers.
Access: onion.debian.org — lists all available .onion repository mirrors
Verification Table
| Organization | Category | .onion Available | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC News | News | Yes | 2019 |
| New York Times | News | Yes | 2017 |
| ProPublica | Investigative | Yes | 2016 |
| Deutsche Welle | News | Yes | 2019 |
| Social | Yes | 2014 | |
| Tor Project | Technology | Yes | 2014 |
| ProtonMail | Yes | 2017 | |
| CIA | Government | Yes | 2019 |
| Internet Archive | Archive | Yes | 2020 |
Verification note: All .onion addresses listed on this page are sourced from the organizations' official clearnet websites, press releases, or published documentation. Always verify addresses independently before use. For additional verification techniques, see our Anti-Phishing Detection guide.