To many, the Darknet is a mysterious space brimming with illegal activity. But what is really behind it? And how does it differ from the surface web? In this episode of CAISzeit, we debunk common myths and speak with Dr. Marco Wähner, interim head of the “Research, Data & Methods” team at CAIS, about the technical foundations, political potential, and societal challenges of the Darknet.
How does the Tor network work? What are Hidden Wikis, and how does one even navigate the Dark Web? We discuss how the Darknet can serve as a safe haven for journalists and whistleblowers under authoritarian regimes – and what kinds of platforms exist beyond the clichés, including offerings by the BBC and Deutsche Welle.
Dr. Marco Wähner also shares insights into his research in cooperation with Felix Soldner from GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: How can the Darknet be studied scientifically? What data is available – and what isn’t? What makes research in this area particularly challenging? And how do conspiracy theories become an argument for selling certain products?
Recommendation on the topic
- “Darknet,” Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte (bpb), 2017 – Overview of terms, technologies, phenomena, and usage
- “The Dark Web: A Brief Introduction” by Felix Soldner, easy_social_sciences, GESIS, 2023 – A concise introduction for social scientists
- Documentary “Alles ist Eins. Außer der 0” – A portrait of the Chaos Computer Club
