‘Hidden’ version of the US investigative outlet’s site is response to concerns about online privacy and surveillance

The US investigative outlet ProPublica has launched the world’s first major news site designed for the dark web in a bid to provide absolute privacy for its readers.

The non-profit organisation has set up a version of its site optimised for use over the Tor network, which provides security all the way between the user and Pro Publica’s servers. Users could already hide their identity using the Tor browser, but the “hidden site” optimised for the network makes it even less likely they will be exposed.

Though some people use the anonymity Tor provides to carry out illegal activity such as buying and selling drugs, it was designed to help activists living under repressive regimes to communicate free of government surveillance.

The ProPublica developer Mike Tigas told Wired the decision to launch the site stemmed from concerns about whether or not Chinese internet users would be safe reading its reporting of online censorship in the country.

He also said it would ensure that anyone choosing to leak information to ProPublica via its secure drop services would also be able to read the rest of the site without fear of being tracked.

“Everyone should have the ability to decide what types of metadata they leave behind,” Tigas said.

The move reflects heightened concerns about both government surveillance and the way companies track people on the internet. Last year, the Intercept, which was founded as part of the eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar’s First Look publishing operation, decided to add new privacy features into the software it uses to analyse its audience.