Darknet

Abstract

This chapter explores the dual nature of the darknet, providing insights for students and criminologists alike. It examines how the darknet serves as a digital environment for both protecting privacy and freedom of expression and facilitating criminal activities, all rooted in a shared desire to evade commercial and state surveillance. By analyzing the enabling and constraining elements of the Janus-faced darknet, the chapter illustrates these dynamics through a detailed discussion of darknet drug distribution platforms, drawing on the author’s original research.