# Briar privacy rating

Peer-to-peer encrypted messenger for Android and desktop that syncs over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Messages, forums and blogs are stored only on users' devices.

## Summary

Briar scores 94 out of 100 (grade A) on the messengers criteria. It meets 7 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, end-to-end encrypted by default, no phone number needed, metadata protection and decentralized. It partly meets independent audit.

- Website: https://briarproject.org
- Source code: https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Messengers](https://privacyratings.com/messengers/)
- Grade: A (94/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | GPL-3.0. | https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/-/blob/master/LICENSE.txt |
| No trackers or telemetry | Yes | The privacy policy states no information is collected about how Briar is used; feedback and crash reports are opt-in. | https://briarproject.org/privacy-policy/ |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Funded by grants and donations, with no ads. | https://briarproject.org/about-us/ |
| Independent audit | Partial | A full Cure53 audit report is public but is older than three years. | https://briarproject.org/raw/BRP-01-report.pdf |
| End-to-end encrypted by default | Yes | All communication between devices is end-to-end encrypted. | https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/ |
| No phone number needed | Yes | Accounts are created on the device with a nickname and password, with no phone number or email. | https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/ |
| Metadata protection | Yes | Messages sync directly over Tor, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and contact lists are stored only on the device. | https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/ |
| Decentralized | Yes | Peer to peer with no central server. | https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/ |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/messengers/briar/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/messengers/briar.md