Exploring Dark Web Illegality: What Constitutes Lawbreaking?

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by conventional search engines and requires the use of an anonymizing browser called Tor to be accessed. While visiting the dark web is not illegal, it is a hotspot for illegal activity due to the anonymity it provides to its users. This has led to various criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, arms trafficking, identity theft, and the sharing of exploitative content. Law enforcement agencies face challenges in policing the dark web due to its encrypted nature, but they have made progress by improving information sharing and technical capabilities to take down illicit marketplaces. To break the law on the dark web, one must engage in illegal activities such as those mentioned above, which can result in criminal charges and prosecution.

Illegal arms sales

The dark web is a facilitator of the international arms trade, with the US being the most common source country for arms sold on the dark web. Almost 60% of the firearms listed are associated with products that originate from the US, followed by a selection of European countries, which account for roughly 25%. However, Europe represents the largest market for arms trade on the dark web, with revenues that are around five times higher than in the US.

Firearms are the most common listing on the dark web, with pistols being the most commonly listed firearm (84%), followed by rifles (10%) and submachine guns (6%). The dark web is increasing the availability of better-performing, more recent firearms for the same or lower price than what would be available on the street or the black market.

The trade in arms-related digital products also poses challenges. These products are often guides that provide tutorials for a wide range of illegal actions, such as the conversion of replica/alarm guns into live weapons, the full manufacture of homemade guns and explosives, and 3D models that can be turned into fully working firearms through 3D printing.

The overall value of the arms trade on the dark web is estimated to be around $80,000 USD per month, with firearms generating nearly 90% of all revenue. This could result in up to 136 untraced firearms or associated products entering the offline world each month. However, it is important to note that these estimates may include a certain percentage of fake listings or transactions, especially among firearms vendors.

The illegal sales of weapons on the dark web present significant challenges for law enforcement agencies and national governments due to the anonymity provided by the dark web, making it difficult to identify individuals and link them to specific activities. However, policymakers and law enforcement agencies can adapt intervention strategies and implement existing measures to tackle illegal arms trafficking to limit the dark web trade.

Drug dealing

The dark web is a collection of hidden sites that are inaccessible via a regular browser and not indexed by search engines. The most common way to access the dark web is by using the Tor browser, which issues a false IP address to mask the user's identity. While the dark web can be used to protect the anonymity of human rights activists, journalists, and political dissidents, it is also exploited by criminals.

The dark web provides drug dealers with a level of anonymity that makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute them. However, there have been some successful sting operations and arrests. For example, Richard Castro, a dark web drug dealer, was arrested after an undercover law enforcement officer posed as a customer and placed orders for drugs. Kurt Lai Lan, another drug dealer, was apprehended at Gatwick airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to South Africa.

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are often used as the primary payment method for drug transactions on the dark web, further adding to the anonymity of these dealings. The pairing of dark web services with cryptocurrencies has led to a boom in illegal drug sales. While the overall portion of worldwide commerce transacted on the dark web is relatively small, the serious nature and rapid growth of illicit transactions are cause for concern for governments and law enforcement agencies.

Child pornography

The dark web is a part of the internet that isn't visible to search engines and requires specialized tools to access. One of the most common ways to access the dark web is through the Tor browser, which was initially developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the 1990s to protect the communications of American operatives and dissidents in oppressive regimes. Tor allows users to browse the internet anonymously by routing their web page requests through a series of proxy servers, making their IP address unidentifiable and untraceable.

While the dark web has legitimate uses, such as protecting the communications of political dissidents and journalists, it is also a hub for criminal activity. In addition to child pornography, the dark web is used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking, illegal arms sales, human trafficking, and terrorism.

Law enforcement agencies face significant challenges in investigating and prosecuting crimes on the dark web due to its anonymous and encrypted nature. However, there have been successful cases of dark web sites being shut down and criminals being brought to justice. For example, in 2021, a dual national of the United States and Ireland, Eric Eoin Marques, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to advertise child pornography. Marques operated a free anonymous hosting service on the dark web that allowed users to view and share images of child sexual abuse.

To combat crimes on the dark web, law enforcement agencies need to improve their understanding of the dark web and enhance cross-jurisdictional cooperation. Investigators also need better training in identifying and collecting digital evidence and preserving evidence. By addressing these challenges, law enforcement can more effectively fight crimes on the dark web, including the distribution of child pornography.

Murder for hire

Murder-for-hire websites are among the most disturbing offerings on the dark web. These sites offer a range of services, from assault and torture to contract killings. For example, on the website Azerbaijani Eagles, one can commission a murder for $5,000, while the site Slayers Hitmen provides a beating service for $2,000 and death by torture for $50,000. Another site, Besa Mafia, was used as a marketplace for contract killings.

However, it is important to note that many of these murder-for-hire sites are scams. Despite this, they have become catch points for individuals seeking to pay for murders. In several cases, people have been arrested and convicted for using these sites to solicit murders. For instance, a nurse from Illinois was sentenced to 12 years in prison after paying a hitman website with Bitcoin to kill the wife of her boyfriend. In another case, a woman named Yue Zhou was charged with using a hitman-for-hire website on the dark web to order the murder of her lover's wife and even discussed having the victim's adult daughter killed.

The anonymous nature of the dark web presents significant challenges for law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting murder-for-hire plots. Investigators have to rely on undercover operations, analysis of shipping procedures, surveillance footage, handwriting analysis, and other sophisticated techniques to catch criminals.

Blackmail/extortion

Blackmail and extortion are related but distinct crimes. Blackmail involves threatening to reveal sensitive or embarrassing information about someone unless certain demands, usually financial, are met. Extortion involves threatening harm, either physical or digital, if demands are not met. In the cyber world, this often takes the form of ransomware attacks, where malicious software locks you out of your computer or data until a ransom is paid.

The dark web, with its promise of anonymity, is a breeding ground for such activities. One scam involves threatening to release sensitive information or compromising photos unless the victim pays a stated amount in bitcoin. Another scam involves sextortion, where attackers claim to have compromising images or videos of the victim and threaten to release them to friends or family.

• Be cautious about what you share online, especially on private messages or untrusted platforms.
• Regularly review your privacy settings on social media to limit what is publicly visible.
• Educate yourself about phishing scams and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments.
• Use reputable cybersecurity tools such as firewalls and antivirus software to protect your devices.
• Regularly back up your data to an external source so you are not vulnerable to ransomware.

If you are being blackmailed or extorted, here are some steps you can take:

• Assess the threat. If someone claims to have compromising information, request proof. Often, scammers bluff and don't actually have any damaging material.
• Do not engage or pay. Giving in to the demands will only encourage further extortion.
• Preserve evidence. Document everything. Take screenshots of messages, emails, or other communications from the blackmailer/extortionist.
• Strengthen your cybersecurity. Change all passwords to strong, unique combinations using a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts, especially email and social media platforms.
• Report to authorities. Contact local law enforcement or a cybercrime unit if the threat is credible. They may be able to investigate, especially if the crime involves sensitive material or physical threats.

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