Tor Project Executive Director to Step Down at End of 2018
Shari Steele, the Executive Director of the Tor Project, has decided to step down after several years of successful leadership. She took on the role at the end of 2015 and plans to leave in December 2018. Many are curious about the reasons behind her decision.
Who Is Shari Steele and What Was Her Role?
Shari Steele was brought in with high hopes that she could restore the Tor Project’s reputation and help the organization move past a series of scandals, particularly those involving former Tor employee Jacob Appelbaum. Appelbaum, a well-known security researcher and journalist linked to the Edward Snowden leaks and WikiLeaks, was accused of sexual misconduct in 2015. Although he denied the allegations, he ultimately left his leadership position at Tor in 2016.
Steele is often credited with helping to rebuild the Tor community’s reputation after this controversy. She also played a key role in developing and diversifying the organization’s funding system. Additionally, Steele led active promotional campaigns to attract a wide range of internet users to anonymous and secure browsing through the Tor Browser.
Tor Project’s Reputation and Past Leadership Issues
The Tor Project was founded in 2005 in Massachusetts with the mission of creating and maintaining online anonymity software. Despite its reputation as a vital tool for internet privacy, the project has faced several controversial staff departures over the years.
Before Steele became Executive Director in 2015, the project experienced a major scandal involving Jacob Appelbaum. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine called Appelbaum the “official public face of the Tor Project” and highlighted his connections to WikiLeaks. The sexual misconduct allegations against him in 2015 severely damaged Tor’s reputation. Shortly after, the Tor Project announced a search for new staff, and in May 2015, publicly acknowledged the resignation of its executive director due to rumors of sexual misconduct that had already surfaced online. Around this time, Tor underwent a management overhaul, bringing in a new team of young professionals, including Shari Steele as Executive Director.
Shari Steele’s Career: Years of Leadership
Before joining the Tor Project, Shari Steele served as Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for 15 years and was a board member before stepping down in 2015. Prior to her role at EFF, she worked as a director at a legal organization for eight years. Steele is also a co-founder of Bridges, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that developing countries have strong technology policies that protect civil liberties in the digital age.
In a statement on the Tor Project’s blog, Steele mentioned that she had considered retirement even before joining Tor as director. Nevertheless, she acknowledges her contributions to the project and says she felt she was giving her all and providing “fierce support” to Tor. She remains convinced that Tor is the best tool for online anonymity available to the general public.
Possible Reasons for Resignation
Note from Pavluu: There are no specific reasons known for Steele’s resignation, but it may be due to the increased attention the project has received in recent years, accusations that Tor Project aids criminals, and other obvious factors. It’s possible that after more than 25 years of hard work, Steele simply decided to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. There’s little doubt that the financial aspect was satisfactory, even though Tor Project’s economy is based on donations—often in Bitcoin, by the way.
The Tor Project is currently actively searching for a suitable replacement.