Dark Web

08.07.2025

Dark Web

Context:
A 35-year-old man from Kerala was recently arrested for allegedly operating as a Level-4 vendor on the dark web. He is accused of selling Drugs using encrypted platforms and cryptocurrency transactions.

What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a hidden section of the internet that standard search engines cannot access. It requires special browsers, such as Tor (The Onion Router) to access, offering users anonymity and encrypted communication.

How Does It Work?

• Access Tool: Requires installation of the Some Specific browser.
• Routing System: Data is routed through multiple random nodes, with each layer encrypted separately, hence the name “onion routing.”
• Web Domains: Websites use “.onion” addresses which are not visible through regular browsers or search engines.
• Decentralised Network: No central authority governs it, making monitoring and regulation extremely difficult.
   

Key Characteristics of the Dark Web

• Privacy and Encryption:
   User identity and online activity are concealed, ensuring that both visitors and site operators remain anonymous.
• Digital Marketplaces:
   Hosts a wide variety of platforms, including both legitimate and illegal marketplaces, forums, data repositories, and whistleblower sites.
• Censorship-Resistant Access:
   Provides uncensored access to information in restrictive environments. It is used by journalists, human rights defenders, and whistleblowers to share or obtain sensitive data securely.
• Risks of Cybercrime:
   The anonymity offered makes it a hub for illegal trade, including drugs, firearms, hacking tools, and stolen financial data. Tracing such activities is extremely challenging for law enforcement agencies due to multi-layered encryption.
   

Challenges

• Law Enforcement Limitations:
   Investigating the dark web requires advanced cyber forensics and international coordination, which many agencies lack.
   → Example: In Edison’s case, delayed identification was due to layered encryption and anonymity tools.
• Lack of Legal Clarity:
   Existing laws often don’t specifically address dark web crimes or define jurisdiction across borders.
   → Example: Confusion over whether cases fall under IT Act or Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
• Cryptocurrency Abuse:
   Virtual currencies enable anonymous transactions that bypass banking systems, complicating financial tracking.
   → Example: Payments for drugs and weapons are often made using Monero or Bitcoin, difficult to trace.
• Public Awareness:
   Limited understanding among users makes youth vulnerable to digital traps, fake sites, and harmful networks.
   

Way Forward

• Specialised Cyber Units:
   Establish dedicated dark web monitoring cells with trained personnel and global coordination.
   → Example: Collaborations like INTERPOL’s Darknet Task Force can enhance investigative capabilities.
• Stronger Regulation of Cryptocurrencies:
   Enforce Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and blockchain analytics to trace illegal crypto transactions.
   → Example: Companies like Chainalysis help governments track crypto trails in cybercrime cases.
• Legal Reforms:
   Update cyber laws to explicitly include dark web activities and define penalties.
   → Example: Amend the IT Act and NDPS Act to bridge enforcement gaps.
• Digital Literacy Campaigns:
   Educate youth and students about the risks and legal consequences of engaging with the dark web.
   → Example: Integrate cybersecurity awareness into school and college-level curricula.
   

Conclusion:
 The dark web poses serious national and international security challenges. Combating it requires coordinated policing, updated legal frameworks, and public awareness to ensure a safer digital ecosystem.