Facebook to add Tor support to Android app

Facebook will release an update to its Android app in the coming days, which will add an option to route traffic through the Tor network. Users must also install the Orbot proxy app for that.

Since October 2014, Facebook has had a URL where the social network can be accessed via the Tor browser, without the need for an exit node. According to the service, there is a significant group of people who use this and there is also a demand from that group for an option to route the traffic of the Facebook app via the Tor network.

According to Facebook, an intern initiated the project over the summer and it was carried out by the social network’s London-based Protect and Care team. In a note, Facebook explains the function. It is still an experiment and the network is asking users to provide feedback to further improve Tor support.

To enable Facebook over Tor on Android, users must first download the Orbot from the Tor Project and establish a connection through this app. The function can then be enabled in the Facebook app. Receiving notifications is then no longer possible, as they cannot be sent over the Tor network.