LEGALITY OF TOR AND DARK WEB EXPLAINED!

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Dark Web is its legality, and to be honest, the issue is rather muddled. In this article, I have tried to shed ample light on this topic to clear any confusion associated with it.

Before moving on to the topic, please remember that the Deep web does not equal to Dark web. The deep web is anything that is not indexed by any popular search engine and is thus hidden. However, it can be accessed with regular browsers, unlike the Dark web that needs a particular browser or software. The sites on Dark web are built on the public Internet as well; however, they cannot be accessed easily.

Browsing the deep web and dark web is not illegal, technically. Unless you are trying to find content that is inherently illegal like child pornography, you are not doing anything illegal.

For instance, there exist many websites on the Dark web that proclaim to sell drugs, fake IDs, guns, and weapons. Some also sell stolen goods etc. Browsing such sites is not illegal, you can browse all you want, however, if you buy something from these sites then it is illegal. As the products available on these sites are stolen, you are practically committing theft by buying these goods. Some of the most popular stolen goods available on Dark Web are guns, weapons, drugs, meth, hacked PayPal Cards, fake ID, stolen iPhones, grenades, etc.

Dark Web is not inherently illegal. For instance, there are many harmless sites available on the Dark Web like social networking sites, email services, message boards, etc. These sites are not illegal per se, however, if you discuss illicit content over them then your activities can be counted as illegal or problematic.

The legality of the Dark Web also depends upon your area and nation. For instance, Dark Web is allowed in the US, however, accessing it in North Korea is illegal. If your nation has an intrusive and regressive government, then the Dark Web can be illegal in your country.

In recent times the FBI and other such organizations have blocked many websites on the Dark Web. Most of these sites dealt with illegal and illicit activities such as illegal guns, weapons, drugs, human trafficking, etc. It is not clear whether just visiting these sites is illegal or not; however, it is safe to assume if you do not own one of such sites or do not buy goods from them regularly, you won’t be prosecuted.

So, I hope I have answered your question about the legality of Dark Web. Yes, it is not illegal to access the Dark Web, however, it is necessary to understand that the nature and content of the sites that you visit can jeopardize your anonymity and security. I do not recommend purchasing/ selling anything on the Dark Web; neither do I recommend downloading anything from the network.

As a safety measure, it is recommended that you avoid all the links that are unlabeled. These unlabeled links are often without any description and can lead you to some honestly horrifying and disturbing content.

ALSO READ : HISTORY OF TOR AND. WHY IT WAS CREATED ?

ALSO READ : WHAT IS TOR? WHAT IS DEEP WEB? WHAT IS DARK WEB? ALL EXPLAINED!

ALSO READ : Why does the Deep Web exist?