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Drug bazaars, hitmen and hackers — why Eileen went deep into the dark web
Feb 6, 2025
Eileen Ormsby, a lawyer turned investigative journalist, dives deep into the dark web's underbelly. She shares her journey from curiosity about The Silk Road to uncovering the shocking realities of drug trafficking and hitman scams. Eileen discusses the structured nature of illicit marketplaces and the complexities of addiction intertwined with law enforcement challenges. Her gripping investigation reveals the dangers of manipulation, as seen in the tragic betrayal of Amy Allwine, while dispelling myths about dark web criminality.
50:00
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Quick takeaways
- The dark web, exemplified by the Silk Road, operates as an illicit e-commerce marketplace that employs Bitcoin for anonymous transactions, fostering a unique sense of community among users.
- Ross Ulbricht's journey from a libertarian idealist to a criminal figure illustrates the dark consequences of operating on the dark web and highlights the complexities of his character and decisions.
Deep dives
Understanding the Internet Layers
The internet is primarily divided into two main layers: the surface internet and the deep web. The surface internet includes everyday websites that users access through standard web browsers, while the deep web houses more private content, like online banking and social media accounts. Beneath this deep web lies the dark web, a clandestine marketplace where anonymity allows the buying and selling of various goods and services, including illicit ones. This complex structure demonstrates the vastness and multifaceted nature of the online world, making it essential to differentiate between these layers.
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