Weaving the Dark Web: Legitimacy on Freenet, Tor, and I2P (Information Society Series)

**An exploration of the Dark Web―websites accessible only with special routing software―that examines the history of three anonymizing networks, Freenet, Tor, and I2P.** The term “Dark Web” conjures up drug markets, unregulated gun sales, stolen credit cards. But, as Robert Gehl points out in __Weaving the Dark Web__, for each of these illegitimate uses, there are other, legitimate ones: the __New York Times__'s anonymous whistleblowing system, for example, and the use of encryption by political dissidents. Defining the Dark Web straightforwardly as websites that can be accessed only with special routing software, and noting the frequent use of “legitimate” and its variations by users, journalists, and law enforcement to describe Dark Web practices (judging them “legit” or “sh!t”), Gehl uses the concept of legitimacy as a window into the Dark Web. He does so by examining the history of three Dark Web systems: Freenet, Tor, and I2P. Gehl presents three distinct meanings of legitimate: legitimate force, or the state's claim to a monopoly on violence; organizational propriety; and authenticity. He explores how Freenet, Tor, and I2P grappled with these different meanings, and then discusses each form of legitimacy in detail by examining Dark Web markets, search engines, and social networking sites. Finally, taking a broader view of the Dark Web, Gehl argues for the value of anonymous political speech in a time of ubiquitous surveillance. If we shut down the Dark Web, he argues, we lose a valuable channel for dissent. Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 1 Introduction......Page 15 What Is the Dark Web?......Page 18 Methodology: Dark Web Situational Analysis......Page 23 Pragmatic Keyword Analysis......Page 27 Plan of the Book......Page 28 Caveats and Shortcomings......Page 31 Notes......Page 33 2 Violence, Propriety, Authenticity: A Symbolic Economy of the Dark Web......Page 39 Three Legitimacies......Page 42 Further Articulating “Legitimacy” and “Dark Web”......Page 51 A Symbolic/Material Economy of Legitimacy......Page 53 The Dark Web’s Trials of Legitimacy......Page 58 Notes......Page 60 3 The Dark Web Network Builders......Page 67 Freenet: The Web, Decentralized and Anonymized......Page 68 The Tor Project: From Free Haven to Hidden Services......Page 72 I2P: From Invisible IRC to Invisible Internet......Page 75 Legitimacies among the Network Builders......Page 78 Conclusion......Page 91 Notes......Page 92 4 From Agorism to OPSEC: Dark Web Markets and a Shifting Relationship to the State......Page 103 Dark Web Markets Overview......Page 105 Agorism......Page 108 Agorism on the Dark Web......Page 112 Agorism on Silk Road......Page 113 The Fall of Silk Road and the Decline of Dark Web Agorism......Page 117 OPSEC: Operations Security......Page 118 OPSEC on Dark Web Markets......Page 121 Dark Web OPSEC Politics......Page 125 Postscript: OPSEC Politics after AlphaBay and Hansa......Page 130 Notes......Page 133 5 Searching for the Google of the Dark Web......Page 141 Propriety: Commanding Respect, Commanding Resources......Page 142 Organizing Resources and Respect......Page 144 Dark Web Search Engines......Page 147 Hiding and Simplifying......Page 158 Dealing with Resistance......Page 161 Conclusion: Inheriting from Google......Page 163 Notes......Page 165 6 Being Legit on a Dark Web Social Network......Page 173 The Legit: Legitimacy as Authenticity......Page 176 From Galaxy to Visibility to Galaxy2......Page 182 Ways of Being a Legit G2 Member......Page 184 Conclusions......Page 198 Postscript: Happy New Year......Page 201 Notes......Page 203 7 Facebook and the Dark Web: A Collision......Page 209 Special-Use Domain Names: The IETF’s RFC 6761......Page 211 FOSS Friends: GNU, Tor, Namecoin, and I2P Work Together......Page 213 Https://facebookcorewwi.onion......Page 215 Facebook and Tor Break Away......Page 217 I2P’s Reaction......Page 220 Clear and Dark Collisions......Page 222 Notes......Page 228 The Youth Liberation Front......Page 235 Expanding Communicative Possibilities......Page 237 The Dark Web’s Trial of Legitimacy Continues......Page 241 Notes......Page 245 Bibliography......Page 249 Index......Page 279 Contents 9 Acknowledgments 11 1 Introduction 15 What Is the Dark Web? 18 Methodology: Dark Web Situational Analysis 23 Pragmatic Keyword Analysis 27 Plan of the Book 28 Caveats and Shortcomings 31 Notes 33 2 Violence, Propriety, Authenticity: A Symbolic Economy of the Dark Web 39 Three Legitimacies 42 Objects and Power 51 Further Articulating “Legitimacy” and “Dark Web” 51 A Symbolic/Material Economy of Legitimacy 53 The Dark Web’s Trials of Legitimacy 58 Notes 60 3 The Dark Web Network Builders 67 Freenet: The Web, Decentralized and Anonymized 68 The Tor Project: From Free Haven to Hidden Services 72 I2P: From Invisible IRC to Invisible Internet 75 Legitimacies among the Network Builders 78 Conclusion 91 Notes 92 4 From Agorism to OPSEC: Dark Web Markets and a Shifting Relationship to the State 103 Dark Web Markets Overview 105 Agorism 108 Agorism on the Dark Web 112 Agorism on Silk Road 113 The Fall of Silk Road and the Decline of Dark Web Agorism 117 OPSEC: Operations Security 118 OPSEC on Dark Web Markets 121 Dark Web OPSEC Politics 125 Postscript: OPSEC Politics after AlphaBay and Hansa 130 Notes 133 5 Searching for the Google of the Dark Web 141 Propriety: Commanding Respect, Commanding Resources 142 Organizing Resources and Respect 144 Dark Web Search Engines 147 Hiding and Simplifying 158 Dealing with Resistance 161 Conclusion: Inheriting from Google 163 Notes 165 6 Being Legit on a Dark Web Social Network 173 The Legit: Legitimacy as Authenticity 176 From Galaxy to Visibility to Galaxy2 182 Ways of Being a Legit G2 Member 184 Conclusions 198 Postscript: Happy New Year 201 Notes 203 7 Facebook and the Dark Web: A Collision 209 Special-Use Domain Names: The IETF’s RFC 6761 211 FOSS Friends: GNU, Tor, Namecoin, and I2P Work Together 213 Https://facebookcorewwi.onion 215 Facebook and Tor Break Away 217 Grothoff’s Reaction 220 I2P’s Reaction 220 Clear and Dark Collisions 222 Notes 228 8 Conclusion 235 The Youth Liberation Front 235 Expanding Communicative Possibilities 237 The Dark Web’s Trial of Legitimacy Continues 241 Notes 245 Bibliography 249 Index 279 An exploration of the Dark Web―websites accessible only with special routing software―that examines the history of three anonymizing networks, Freenet, Tor, and I2P. The term “Dark Web” conjures up drug markets, unregulated gun sales, stolen credit cards. But, as Robert Gehl points out in Weaving the Dark Web , for each of these illegitimate uses, there are other, legitimate ones: the New York Times 's anonymous whistleblowing system, for example, and the use of encryption by political dissidents. Defining the Dark Web straightforwardly as websites that can be accessed only with special routing software, and noting the frequent use of “legitimate” and its variations by users, journalists, and law enforcement to describe Dark Web practices (judging them “legit” or “sh!t”), Gehl uses the concept of legitimacy as a window into the Dark Web. He does so by examining the history of three Dark Web systems: Freenet, Tor, and I2P. Gehl presents three distinct meanings of legitimate: legitimate force, or the state's claim to a monopoly on violence; organizational propriety; and authenticity. He explores how Freenet, Tor, and I2P grappled with these different meanings, and then discusses each form of legitimacy in detail by examining Dark Web markets, search engines, and social networking sites. Finally, taking a broader view of the Dark Web, Gehl argues for the value of anonymous political speech in a time of ubiquitous surveillance. If we shut down the Dark Web, he argues, we lose a valuable channel for dissent. This Book Explores The Dark Web--sites That Must Be Accessed Through Special Routers Designed To Protect The Anonymity Of Visitors And Publishers. Avoiding Sensationalist Definitions That Conflate The Dark Web With Illicit Activity Or Deep Layers That Search Engines Cannot Crawl, Gehl Focuses On Anonymity And Encryption As The Key Differences Between The Dark Web And The Everyday Clear Web On Which Both Users And Publishers Are Tracked And Identified. Gehl Focuses Here On Dark Web Systems -- Freenet, I2p, And Tor -- To Reveal The Wide Range Of Activities, Many Of Them Perfectly Legal And Socially Enlightened, That The Dark Web Supports. Despite Its Various Uses, The Question Of Legitimacy Is An Essential One: Who Needs The Dark Web And Why? To Answer These Questions, This Book Shares The Perspectives Of The Dark Web's Creators, Users, And Publishers, And Proposes An Original Theory Of Media Legitimacy As It Relates To State Power, Organizational Propriety, And Authenticity-- Violence, Propriety, Authenticity : A Symbolic Economy Of The Dark Web -- The Dark Web Network Builders -- From Agorism To Opsec : Dark Web Markets And A Shifting Relationship To The State -- Searching For The Google Of The Dark Web -- Being Legit On A Dark Web Social Network -- Facebook And The Dark Web : A Collision. Robert W. Gehl. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book explores the Dark Web--sites that must be accessed through special routers designed to protect the anonymity of visitors and publishers. Avoiding sensationalist definitions that conflate the Dark Web with illicit activity or "deep layers" that search engines cannot crawl, Gehl focuses on anonymity and encryption as the key differences between the Dark Web and the everyday "Clear Web" on which both users and publishers are tracked and identified. Gehl focuses here on Dark Web systems -- Freenet, I2P, and Tor -- to reveal the wide range of activities, many of them perfectly legal and socially enlightened, that the Dark Web supports. Despite its various uses, the question of legitimacy is an essential one: who needs the Dark Web and why? To answer these questions, this book shares the perspectives of the Dark Web's creators, users, and publishers, and proposes an original theory of media legitimacy as it relates to state power, organizational propriety, and authenticity"-- Provided by publisher