Why in news?
- Kerala police has set up a new facility to encounter problems due to the dark web
Darknet
- There are three layers on the darknet or the dark web:
- The first layer is mainstream, and consists of regular sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Amazon. Only 4% of the whole internet makes up this layer.
- The second level, the profound cloud, is a network where data is stored in an inaccessible database (that is, conventional search engines such as Google are not accessible). It is used to give access to a single population group. The data are usually sensitive and private (public, private, bank, cloud, etc) and are therefore not accessible.
- The third layer is the deepest, often referred to as the’ deep web.’ It is a network that is encrypted over the Internet.
- It is basically a networking network usable only with special programs like Tor (The Onion Router) or I2P (Invisible Networking Project).
- Anything on the dark web will not be dragged into the web and will thus be very private.
Concerns about Darknet
- Out of 2,723 websites, 1,547–57%–host drugs (423 pages, illegal pornography (122) and hacking (96) amongst others, is categorized by content.
- Login details of streaming sites such as Netflix sold on the darknet markets for low prices were also reported.
- The network is also used without government censorship by several activists, including those who live under oppressive regimes.
- Activists in the Arab Spring used the TOR network.
Darknet and India
- The ITA deals with cyber-crime and is a member of the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The law contains only six sections dealing with cybercrime.
- In times of change, India needs an internet crime code that falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs which would also cover police issues.
- There is a need for police force which is trained in cybercrime not to be transferred to maintain knowledge standards to deal with such activities.
