2025, Vol. 7, Issue 10, Part B

Author(s): Vinay Kumar

Abstract: The darknet represents a hidden and complex layer of the internet, facilitating anonymous interactions, encrypted communications, and decentralized marketplaces. While it serves legitimate purposes such as privacy protection and political dissent, it has become a breeding ground for illicit activities, including drug trafficking, ransomware-as-a-service, human exploitation, financial fraud, and cyberterrorism. This research provides a comprehensive legal study of darknet operations, analyzing the structure, functioning, and evolution of cybercrime networks within the digital underground. It examines the jurisdictional, legal, and constitutional challenges that hinder effective law enforcement, highlighting conflicts between security imperatives and civil liberties, privacy rights, and due process. The study incorporates comparative analyses of international practices, including landmark darknet takedowns such as Silk Road, AlphaBay, and DarkMarket, to evaluate the effectiveness of global governance strategies, cross-border cooperation, and technological interventions. Further, it addresses policy, ethical, and governance challenges, emphasizing the need for holistic frameworks that integrate advanced cyber forensic capabilities, AI-driven monitoring, public-private partnerships, and ethical oversight. The research concludes with actionable recommendations for legal reform, technical capacity enhancement, international collaboration, and sustainable policy measures, advocating a balanced approach that mitigates cybercrime risks while safeguarding civil liberties. By combining legal, technological, and ethical perspectives, this study aims to provide a strategic roadmap for combating darknet-enabled crime and strengthening law enforcement’s ability to navigate the evolving digital underground.

DOI: 10.22271/multi.2025.v7.i10b.812

Pages: 99-106 | Views: 97 | Downloads: 60

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