At the beginning of June, EFF issued its Tor Challenge, calling on individuals and organizations to set up Tor relays to strengthen the Tor network and help Internet activists all over the world. Then we added the Poster Challenge, offering a Molly Crabapple poster to anyone who set up five or more relays. Today we’re unveiling the final achievement in our Tor Challenge: the Tor Video Challenge.

Tor is a service that helps you to protect your anonymity while using the Internet. Internet activists depend on Tor to maintain their anonymity online and access websites that have been blocked by their governments. The Tor network depends on volunteers to operate relays, but setting up a relay for the first time can be a tricky and confusing process for some. That’s why EFF has launched the Tor Video Challenge.

We’re asking for participants to create instructional videos that explain how to set up Tor relays on different operating systems – and compete to win awesome prizes and props from EFF. We’ve already made the first video, showing people how to set up a Tor relay on a Mac. Now we want other videos to explain how to set up Tor on different operating systems. Be creative! Videos can be funny, cute, scary, serious – but they must show users the steps they need to take in order to run a Tor relay in one of the six operating system categories. Please see the Official Rules for minimum standards and other requirements.

The videos which are created will be useful to Internet users for months or even years to come. By taking part, you’ll be helping others help Tor – creating a ripple effect for defending online privacy and anonymity.

A panel of experts will be judging each video on accuracy and clarity, creativity and entertainment value, and how well it promotes EFF values, especially anonymity and freedom of expression. This contest is open to all US residents over the age of 18. Videos must be submitted by July 5th, 2011. We will be judging videos in the following categories: (1) Windows 7, (2) Windows XP, (3) Debian-based Linux, (4) Red Hat-based Linux, (5) Other Unix-based Operating Systems, and (6) Setting up Virtual Machines. Videos should be less than six minutes in length and must be licensed using the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Check out the detailed rules.

To enter you must upload1 an original video that you have personally created to a hosting site of your choice and send the link to activist@eff.org. This email must include a first and last name with your email address, and physical addresses where we can send your prize if you are the winner.2

Winners will be announced by July 12th. Winners will receive a gorgeous poster about Tor by New York artist Molly Crabapple, signed by the EFF staff. Winning videos may be showcased on our Setting Up Tor page .

Got questions? Email activist@eff.org.

  • 1. We suggest using a video sharing site such as YouTube, Vimeo, or blip.tv that allows you to attach a Creative Commons Attribution license to your Video. You may need to register with that site. Once you have created your Video, upload it to the hosting site of your choice and take the steps necessary to make it public and licensed as Creative Commons Attribution.
  • 2. If you wish to remain anonymous to the public, please let us know. You may submit a nickname, and EFF will endeavor to use the nickname for the public aspects of contest. Submitted personal information will be treated according to EFF’s privacy policy.

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