Nostr Web Client

If a user's goal is to hide their location then Nostr is not a great choice of protocol. Every relay connection requires the relay to know the user's IP, and that's mandated by the protocol itself, regardless of what the relay does or does not do with this info. And the user needs multiple relays, often random, often out of their control. All relays use DNS relying on certificate authorities and public registrars, registries.

Then add in all the media servers (for a single not you need the relay and the media server, and maybe the mirrors too). Then add in the CDN serving the media itself. It's basically standing on a hill and shouting in every direction.

And VPNs don't help much. Most VPN use is trivial to detect now (especially on phones), and VPNs cut both ways, a user could be out of the UK and get a UK VPN and now the relay or media server has to treat them like they're in the UK, with appropriate guardrails. So the obligation on Nostr relays, media servers, everything, is very heavy, regardless of VPNs

Basically if location privacy is a major concern then a user would not choose Nostr, they'd choose something else.

Jake Woodhouse 5mo ago

Very valuable insight. Thanks

So the point is, yes they can’t switch you off, but they will know exactly where you are

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Discussion

Z4 Explorer 5mo ago 💬 4

Yeah, that's the strength of nostr. They can try censor us, but its impossible really.

As for vpn not hiding location, I'm not entirely sure why vpn are not effective in hiding location. Practically the vpn I use works. Ive been on sites since the UK Online Safety Act came into operation. With a vpn outside of UK, UK websites work fine. Without vpn, the website is requesting I complete age verification. You can test this for yourself.

Joe's post on how vpn does not hide location or hide location on nostr. I dont understand the technical jargon and content of the message. Or the limitations of vpns and how they actually are not good at hiding location.

If nostr relays can see our true ip address (even with the use of a vpn), how can an authority get access to this information? Is it public? Do they have to contact the relays? Do they need to run their own relay to get this info. I admit my technical understanding of nostr isn't as good as it should be.

When we say we want to hide our location, what we really saying is we dont want to be censored. Which nostr is succeeding at.

Maybe we could invite a nostr dev to answer some of our questions.