I would not be opposed to having some sort of operator validation of exit nodes. Where you can actually validate who runs an operator node, get a person behind them. And perhaps rate those higher than others.
Interesting/Awesome. Just curious, what day/event specifically motivated you to get started with this?
To be honest, my impression -- which could be wrong -- is most exit node operators do so for nefarious reasons, Pr0n (hence your username INT-Penis), or are Fed.
(to be clear, appreciate what you are doing regardless)
Helping people around make me feel better.
Wait I can't tell if you're joking, do you really think their username is a reliable indication that they run Tor nodes for pornography, and not a stupid internet pun? Because if you're joking I lol'd, but if you're not I ... I'm worried about you, I guess?
I wanted to use the name NaturalsticPhallacy, because it's a prevalent fallacy I see people fall for, and humans have found dicks funny since recorded history but it's too long for HN so I had to shorten it to this one.
I do not build or operate any sort of porn or even porn adjacent software or service and never have. Not that I wouldn't if the right job came along, but I never have and currently don't.
But I digress. Usernames are generally best ignored. The content of their writing is what matters.
This part of your comment is completely unnecessary and unwarranted.
You already asked your question, just wait for an answer instead of jumping to uncharitable conclusions.
I'm not stupid, with anonymity comes abuse. But I don't think that's a reason to get rid of the option to be anonymous.
I'd say your impression is wrong about tor operators, I've met a few of them at various events. (Not including the tor operators who try to subvert anonymity of course, whoever they are.)
But the tor network is absolutely mostly used for illegal activity. I can't be dishonest about this, that would mean denying human nature. Give humans a way to be anonymous and they will absolutely abuse that.
But I've also met one reporter in person who thanked me for the tor network, that's enough for me.
As in, 28.8K or 56K or so ...
This would force tor into being a text only communications channel which would obviate many of the most egregious illegal use-cases.
You'd lose nothing with regard to freedom of speech and thought and communication. For instance, you can publish, and consume, a site like HN without any issues on 56K.
But I don't see it working in reality because there is the argument that you might need to share leaks anonymously and that would take days.
So the choice is either anonymity and crime, or no anonymity at all. And crime won't go away, it just won't be able to use an anonymous channel for communications.
And it's not like criminals are getting away with it by being anonymous either. If you go on tor to commit crimes then you will be hunted down by the international police. And if you commit heinous crimes against children then you will find no refuge. That's not a good life to live. Odds are you will end up in prison sooner or later.