Twitter obliges Tor users to provide a phone number when registering

The microblogging service Twitter introduced a mandatory mobile phone confirmation when registering users who came to the site using an anonymous Tor browser. This is another step of the company in the fight against the "trolls" who are annoyed by microblog users. Concern about the actions of such individuals is caused primarily by the fact that they repel corporate customers from the service.

It is a number to verify new accounts. pic.twitter.com/qvZbmjHrGV

- Jonathan Zdziarski (@JZdziarski) March 3, 2015

Recently, Twitter has come to grips with clearing the ranks and fighting trolls. In early February, CEO Dick Costolo recognized that they could not cope with the trolls, and gave the command to their developers to declare the hunt for vile creatures. Last week, Twitter began to demand confirmation of a mobile phone for those users who were seen in inappropriate actions. For ordinary users, it is not necessary to indicate a mobile phone.
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Now, Tor users must confirm their mobile phone, thus destroying their anonymity. This may be good for fighting trolls, but not good, for example, for online activists who are trying to avoid harassment from the authorities. In addition, in some countries, governments simply order to block Twitter - then people have no other way to access it, except for free Tor and paid VPN. Well, the troll can always register a new account without specifying a mobile phone.

Data from metrics.torproject.org :


Tor's popularity in Turkey jumped sharply during Twitter's blocking, and then fell again.


And in Russia, in connection with the beginning of mass locks, the service became more popular for a long time. Popularity is growing slowly.