Access to uncensored news is a basic right, yet millions everywhere endure regimes that restrict legitimate news websites. Onion mirrors managed by leading news organizations provide an essential channel, enabling users to reach independent journalism securely and anonymously via the Tor network.
This guide lists every leading news organization with an official onion mirror, including verified .onion addresses usable immediately. Whether you’re a journalist, researcher, activist, or privacy supporter, these resources guarantee continuous access to trusted information.
Why News Organizations Create Onion Mirrors
Before reviewing the list, it’s useful to see why major news outlets invest effort in establishing dark web versions of their sites. Their reasons converge on three pillars: bypassing censorship, safeguarding sources, and protecting reader privacy.
Countries like China, Iran, Russia, and Vietnam actively block access to Western news outlets. Citizens in these regions cannot simply type bbc.com into their browser and expect to see the latest headlines. Their government firewalls intercept the request and return an error or redirect to state-approved media.
Onion mirrors solve this problem. When you access a .onion address through the Tor browser, your connection never leaves the Tor network. There are no exit nodes for government filters to monitor. The traffic is encrypted end-to-end, making it essentially impossible for censors to block specific content.
For journalists collaborating with sensitive sources, onion sites provide an additional layer of protection. Sources can read published articles on topics they may have contributed to, all without leaving a trace in their browsing history. This is particularly important when covering government corruption, corporate fraud, or human rights abuses.
BBC News Onion Mirror
The BBC launched its onion service in 2019 and upgraded to a V3 address in 2021. V3 addresses refer to the latest, more secure version of .onion links. As one of the most accessed news sources globally, with over 438 million weekly users across all platforms, the BBC onion mirror serves a key role in bringing independent journalism to censored regions.
Official BBC Onion Address:
https://www.bbcnewsd73hkzno2ini43t4gblxvycyac5aw4gnv7t2rccijh7745uqd.onion/
The BBC Onion site includes the full international edition of BBC News. Content produced primarily for UK audiences, including BBC iPlayer, is not available due to broadcast licensing restrictions. However, users can access BBC News in multiple languages by adding the language code to the URL:
- BBC Persian: /persian
- BBC Arabic: /arabic
- BBC Russian: /russian
- BBC Chinese: /zhongwen
The BBC worked with Alec Muffett, creator of the Enterprise Onion Toolkit (EOTK), and received support from the Open Technology Fund to build their mirror. This cooperation set the standard for how major media organizations approach onion services.
In their official statement, the BBC explained their reasoning: “The browser is able to hide who is using it and what data is being accessed, which can help people avoid government surveillance and censorship. Countries including China, Iran, and Vietnam are among those who have tried to block access to the BBC News website or programmes.”
The New York Times Onion Mirror
The New York Times became available as a Tor onion service in October 2017, making it one of the earliest major American newspapers to establish a dark web presence. The initiative was led by Runa Sandvik, then the Times’ Director of Information Security.
Official NYT Onion Address:
https://www.nytimesn7cgmftshazwhfgzm37qxb44r64ytbb2dj3x62d2lljsciiyd.onion/
NYT SecureDrop for Tips:
ej3kv4ebuugcmuwxctx5ic7zxh73rnxt42soi3tdneu2c2em55thufqd.onion
The Times explained their decision in a blog post: “Some readers choose to use Tor to access our journalism because they’re technically blocked from accessing our website; or because they worry about local network monitoring; or because they care about online privacy; or simply because that is the method that they prefer.”
The onion version provides access to most features on the main website, though some interactive features may be limited. For users in 2026 and beyond, the NYT onion mirror continues to be an essential resource for accessing journalism anonymously.
Deutsche Welle Onion Mirror
Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international public broadcaster, launched its onion service in 2019 with support from the Open Technology Fund and Tor Project. DW upgraded to a V3 onion address in 2021, meaning it now uses the current, most secure version of onion site technology.
Official Deutsche Welle Onion Address:
https://dwnewsgngmhlplxy6o2twtfgjnrnjxbegbwqx6wnotdhkzt562tszfid.onion/
DW broadcasts in 32 languages and is vital for audiences in Russia, where the service has been blocked since March 2022. The organization stated: “DW is a global champion for freedom of opinion and speech. It is therefore a logical step for us to use Tor to reach people in censored markets who previously had little or no access to free media.”
As of 2026, Deutsche Welle continues to expand its audience via the Tor network, providing indispensable news coverage to individuals who cannot access it through conventional means.
ProPublica Onion Mirror
ProPublica made history in 2016 as the first major news organization to launch a dedicated onion site. The nonprofit investigative journalism outlet based in New York City remains dedicated to openness and public service.
Official ProPublica Onion Address:
http://p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion/
ProPublica SecureDrop:
http://propublica.securedrop.tor.onion/
ProPublica’s decision stemmed from their work on Chinese internet censorship. Developer Mike Tigas built their onion site after working on “Inside the Firewall,” an interactive project tracking how international news sites get censored within mainland China.
The organization explained: “We launched this in part because we do a lot of reporting, writing, and coding about issues like media censorship, digital confidentiality and monitoring, and breaches of private medical information. Our readers should never need to worry that somebody else is watching what they’re doing on our site.”
ProPublica also published open-source configuration files for their onion service, helping other news organizations set up their own mirrors.
The Guardian Onion Mirror
The Guardian launched its official onion service in 2022, joining the growing list of major newspapers accessible through Tor.
Official Guardian Onion Address:
https://www.guardian2zotagl6tmjucg3lrhxdk4dw3lhbqnkvvkywawy3oqfoprid.onion/
The British newspaper’s Onion site provides access to its international news coverage, opinion pieces, and investigative journalism. For readers in 2026 who need anonymous access to Guardian content, this mirror provides a secure alternative to the clearnet site.
Other News Organizations with Onion Mirrors
Several other major news outlets maintain official onion addresses:
Bloomberg:
http://ogdwaroarq4p6rnfn2hl4crvldyruyc2g24435qtxmd3twhevg7dsqid.onion/
Financial Times:
https://nqu6crmtnzs2hs5abo2uqni53yqsnnwqnerdxuzyz5yxairxlzjzt6yd.onion/
Washington Post:
https://vfnmxpa6fo4jdpyq3yneqhglluweax2uclvxkytfpmpkp5rsl75ir5qd.onion/
BuzzFeed News:
http://wa6kwvuje2owcbchji2evtavatvt5nlavrojhszlmmqbpqjpp6quzbid.onion/
These mirrors vary in how actively they are maintained. Some organizations launched onion sites as experiments and have since reduced their investment in maintaining them. Consistently confirm that the onion address you’re using matches what’s published on the organization’s official clearnet website.
Government and Intelligence Agency Onion Sites
Several government agencies operate official onion addresses, primarily as channels for receiving anonymous tips.
CIA Official Onion Site:
http://ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion/
The CIA launched this in 2019 to give people a secure way to contact the agency and report information. The site duplicates their regular website and allows visitors to explore the World Factbook, submit tips, and apply for jobs anonymously.
How to Verify Official Onion Mirrors
Fake onion mirrors represent a real threat in 2026. Scammers create lookalike sites to harvest credentials or spread misinformation. Here’s how to verify that an onion address is legitimate:
Check the official website. Legitimate news organizations publish their onion addresses on their regular websites. The BBC lists theirs in help articles. The New York Times announced theirs in official blog posts. Never trust an onion address just because it appears in some directory.
Look for HTTPS. V3 onion addresses support HTTPS certificates. Legitimate news organizations typically use HTTPS, introducing an extra layer of verification.
Compare with multiple sources. Cross-reference addresses across trusted directories like the Tor Project’s official list of featured onion services.
Watch for phishing variations. Scammers create addresses that look similar to legitimate ones. Double-check every character before accessing confidential content.
Why This Matters in 2026
Internet censorship is expanding globally. More countries are applying cutting-edge blocking systems. More governments are monitoring online activity. The need for anonymous access to reliable news has never been greater.
News organization onion mirrors represent something important: the commitment of free press institutions to reach every reader, regardless of the government they live under. When the BBC, New York Times, and Deutsche Welle invest resources in upkeeping onion services, they’re making a statement about the universal right to information.
For users exploring these resources for the first time in 2026, remember that these aren’t shady alternatives to legitimate news. They are the legitimate news, delivered through channels designed to protect your privacy and bypass censorship.
Bookmark the addresses listed in this guide. Share them with people who need them. And consistently verify onion addresses through authorized channels before trusting them with your attention or data.
