A group is calling for a full 24-hour shutdown of the Tor network in protest against the way the Project dealt with the Jake Applebaum sexual misconduct accusations, and because of recent rumors it might be letting former government agents in its ranks.

The protest, #torstrike, was uploaded online on the GhostBin website and asks TOR users not to use the service for 24 hours and for Tor workers to shut down nodes and not work on the Tor Project's software.

The call for protest called on other Tor-related projects like the Tails OS and the Library Freedom Project to join the Tor blackout.

The following rationale is given for the #torstrike mobilization call, which pins the blame solely on the Tor Project's leadership.

“ Tor can no longer be trusted after #jakegate / #torgate and hire of CIA. Its sinking credibility is putting people at risk. We hope it can be healed and regain trust with mass action. A short blackout may hurt in the short term, but save Tor in the long term. It will also allow dissenting voices to be heard. ”

Demands regarding the Applebaum investigation

The group wants (1) Shari Steele to leave the Tor Project and the appointment of a new Executive Director. They also want (2) Roger Dingledine, President and co-founder of the Tor Project, to leave as well.

They also want (3) the newly elected Board Members to reveal any connection to the Applebaum investigation and leave if they had a part to play.

The group is asking for (4, 5, 6) the details on Applebaum's investigative and punitive process to be made public, asking all Tor employees that participated in this investigation to leave.

The group is mad because one of the persons that Applebaum supposedly sexually assaulted was part of the official investigation. The same reasons were cited last week by another Tor node operator, Stephan Seitz, when he announced he'd be closing down his node. In mid-July, another core Tor node operator left the project, also citing ethics.

Before leaving, Setiz pointed the Tor team to a blog post from Marie Gutbub, another Tor Project member that left, which reads: "I have never heard of any respected court in a democratic country where an accuser is part of the jury or a judge." [UPDATE: A third Tor node operator has also asked the Tor Project to clarify the Applebaum allegations, threatening to leave.]

The #torstrike group also asked for (7) the persons behind the JacobAppelbaum.net and the @JakeMustDie and @VictimsOfJake Twitter accounts to come forward and their identities made public. This website and social media accounts were used to publish details about Applebaum's sexual misconduct.

The group also said that (8) any cyber-bullies must leave the project and that (9) both Applebaum and his accusers must clarify their stories.

Last but not least, the protesters wanted the Tor Project to explain why (10) it gave The New York Times an exclusive in the Jacob Applebaum investigation, calling it "highly unusual and an embarrassment."

Accusations of Applebaum's misbehavior were slung around for years, but only this June made headlines, when Applebaum was forced to leave while the Project started an official investigation, which later concluded that he had to leave the Project for good.

Demands regarding the Tor Project infiltration

In its last six demands, the group asked for the Tor Project and its members to come forward and oust any members with past or present ties to government, military, or intelligence agencies, asking for these persons to leave or be thrown out.

They also wanted the Tor Project to publish an annual report on current staff and active volunteers, detailing their backgrounds.

"We know from IRC logs that Tor Project staff knew of a CIA hire on at least one occasion and kept it secret," the accusers wrote. "Some advocated for the hire, at length."

The full #torstrike statement can be found below, in its original form.