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Darknet news and indexing site Deep Dot Web seized by FBI
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized the darknet news and indexing site Deep Dot Web for alleged money-laundering.
First appearing both on the open internet and dark web in 2013, Deep Dot Web primarily operated as a service for darknet-related news, including market and cryptocurrency news. The site also offered an index of dark web sites, often shady ones that can be reached only with special software.
Sharing news is not a crime, and neither is sharing links, but it appears that the money-laundering charges relate to the site making money from links that promoted darknet sites. The takedown of the site involved authorities in multiple countries with two people being arrested in Israel with others arrested in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil.
According to The Times of Israel, the operators of the site made millions of dollars in commission through referrals to dark web sites that sold weapons, drugs, stolen credit card information and more. Perhaps more disturbingly, Israeli police suggested the operators of Deep Dot Web were acting as affiliates to dark web pages, getting a cut on sales made of illicit goods.
The same report noted that the raid on Deep Dot Web followed in the footsteps of the raid and closure of leading dark web marketplace Wall Street Market. Although that was initially feared to be an exit scam before unconfirmed reports emerged that it had been raided, the Times said three men aged 31, 22 and 29 were arrested in Germany in relation to running the site along with another man in Brazil.
It isn’t clear whether the Wall Street Market raids are related to the subsequent raid on Deep Dot Web. However, it should be noted that Wall Street Market operated an affiliate service and Deep Dot Web’s operators are accused of acting as affiliates to dark web pages, so it’s likely not a coincidence.
The U.S. Department of Justice is yet to comment on the Deep Dot Web raids, but it’s likely it will be seeking extradition to the U.S. for those arrested to face the money-laundering charges.
Image: FBI
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