Not Just for Criminals: 10 Legitimate Purposes for Using the Dark Web

What is the dark web?

If you think of the internet as an iceberg, the regular web that we use every day is the “surface web” and the dark web is the hidden chunk under the sea.

This “hidden chunk” operates on a network known as Tor (The Onion Router) and is accessed via the Tor browser.

It's called the onion router because internet traffic is protected in multiple layers of encryption. These layers resemble that of an onion.

As the traffic passes through the network of random servers, a layer of encryption is peeled away, until the traffic reaches the last server, or exit node. This exit node then sends the traffic to its final destination.

This onion-like design means that no server in the network ever knows both the originating address and the destination. It's this special feature that makes it much harder to trace a user's identity, thus making Tor browsing anonymous.

Why is the dark web considered “dark”?

The cloak of anonymity that the dark web provides has attracted a certain user base. Criminals of all sorts have flocked to Tor to conduct and plan illegal activities. This can include terrorism, trafficking, buying and selling drugs, hiring hit men, the buying and selling of stolen data, as well as other illicit goods and services.

It's for this reason that the Tor browser dark web has gained the reputation of being a dodgy place for dodgier deeds.

However, that's not what the Tor Project (the non-profit entity behind the Tor browser) stands for nor what the technology was initially intended for.

The Onion Routing, as a technology, was designed by the American Navy to protect US intelligence internet communications.

Today, the Tor browser dark web is more about giving general internet users and vulnerable groups the ability to “experience real private browsing without tracking, surveillance, or censorship.”

As with any innovative tool, there will always be people who use it for nefarious purposes.

But this doesn't mean that the tool itself is the problem. And it doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate uses for the dark web.

Which brings us neatly to...

Legitimate uses of the dark web

It's true that the dark web has more than its fair share of illegal marketplaces, shady people, and dubious exchanges. But this hidden corner of the internet also holds plenty of legitimate and bona fide uses.

Beyond its shadowy facade, there exist individuals and communities utilizing the dark web for constructive purposes, harnessing its privacy and security features for the greater good.

Or simply just for the sole reason that they just want privacy!

Let's delve into the surprisingly diverse and lawful applications of the dark web and shed some light on how it can be a potent tool for safeguarding digital rights and protecting vulnerable users.

Anonymous communication

The dark web provides a platform for individuals to communicate without revealing their identities. It's a feature that doesn't just benefit criminals.

The anonymous networks and encrypted messaging services on Tor also provide safe communication for whistleblowers, journalists, and activists. They can communicate and share sensitive information freely and securely without the risk of retaliation by aggressive governments or other bad actors.

For example, SecureDrop is an open-source whistleblower submission system that allows individuals to anonymously and securely share sensitive information with journalists and media organizations. It relies on the Tor network to ensure the anonymity of its users and to prevent anyone, including the media organizations themselves, from identifying the source of the leaked information.

Protection from surveillance

With the rise of government surveillance, privacy-conscious individuals can utilize the dark web to shield their online activities from prying eyes. Again, it's not just criminals that governments are spying on.

British historian, Andrew Lownie recently discovered that he was the subject of multiple surveillance operations. So many, in fact, that when he made a series of subject access requests, he was told there was so much material that it would take more than 650 hours to retrieve it.

It turned out that Lownie had been under government surveillance for 5 years. The reason?

Well, as Lownie puts it,

“My crime? I'm a historian who pushes back against the censoring of our history by the government and highlights its failures to adhere to Public Records Acts and the Freedom of Information Act.”

All aspects of Lownie's online (and offline) life, appeared in the surveillance reports, including factors not related to his activities as a historian. It's this kind of invasive surveillance that the dark web can provide refuge from, allowing users to maintain their digital privacy.

Access to censored information

In countries with strict internet censorship, the dark web can serve as a gateway to unrestricted information and media.

There are many countries where websites are blocked for criticizing the government or showing content that goes against their narrative or is deemed illegal. In such cases, the dark web can be a window to the truth or at least to different points of view.

Many International news sites have a Tor site that shows the same content as their surface website. This means that individuals living in oppressive regimes can access websites and resources that might otherwise be blocked by government-imposed restrictions.

Ad free browsing

If you're one of those people who really hate the ads that follow you from site to site, then using the dark web can put a stop to them. While ad-blocking is not the dark web's primary function, it is an incidental benefit.

On the surface web, ad networks use cookies and tracking scripts to follow users' online behavior in order to serve them targeted ads. However, the frequent change in the user's IP address and the use of browser isolation in Tor disrupt these tracking mechanisms.

This means you can browse the web without being followed and constantly shown personalized ads based on your browsing history.

Research and information gathering

The dark web can even be a place of study. On the surface web, academic papers and journal articles are often hidden behind a ridiculously high pay wall. The dark web is a way to counteract this barrier to knowledge.

For example, The American Journal of Freestanding Research Psychology is an .onion site that hosts academic papers and makes them available for free. Unlike other similar sites, there is no legal issue with accessing the content on TAJFRP, since each paper was submitted by the original author(s).

It's not just research done by academics, but people who may wish to research a sensitive medical condition without tracking or being profiled.

Free speech

While the dark web may house controversial discussions, it also serves as a sanctuary for free speech. People who fear persecution for expressing unpopular or dissenting opinions can find refuge in certain dark web platforms.

The Tor Project asked its users to share, anonymously, their stories about how accessing the dark web has helped them. Many mentioned surveillance and censorship, but others said it allowed them a level of free speech they feel they no longer have on the surface web.

Accessing social media

Anonymous internet handles are becoming a thing of the Internet's past as more and more social media platforms, forums, and news sites impose real-name policies. If you want to keep using social media and maintain your online privacy or have total anonymity, you can turn to the dark web.

There are dark web social media platforms that allow users to create a profile using fake names and don't require emails or phone numbers to verify the user's identity. Of course, if you use Tor but still share too much on the social media platform, then it will defeat the purpose!

But, if used correctly it will give you that social media fix.

There are also dark web mirrors of the surface web's social media sites. Twitter and Facebook for example have Tor sites. They allow people living in oppressive regimes to access them if they've been blocked.

Shining a light into the darkness

The dark web is often associated with illicit activities and people up to no good, and while that association is valid, it's not the only purpose for this hidden corner of the web.

Beyond its shadowy facade, the dark web serves as a refuge for anonymous communication and offers a safe space for whistleblowers, journalists, and activists. It also provides an extra layer of protection from government surveillance, especially useful for those advocating for social justice or pushing back against censorship or oppressive regimes.

The dark web allows users to browse ad-free, gives free access to pay-walled knowledge, and provides a sanctuary for free speech. On top of that, it can bring back a level of anonymity to social media for those who value their online privacy.

With plenty of perfectly legitimate uses of the dark web, it can be an excellent way to safeguard your online identity and sensitive information.

If you want to learn more about safeguarding your privacy, check out 10 Ways To Improve Your Privacy Online