Despite the fact that the Tor network was originally created by the US government, it is becoming increasingly clear that activities on the darknet and the interests of the federal government diverge in different directions. The Trump administration has intensified and government attacks on the dark internet have increased.
Today, one in five knows that there are hundreds of trading platforms on the dark web that sell drugs, weapons, documents, various contraband, and so on. The other side is services for hacking or various attacks, which opened up the opportunity for many to purchase a service that is relevant today: hack the girl's social network, get access to the boss's mail and other joys that cannot but surprise. In general, the stereotypes applied to the dark web are more or less well-known.
However, this is not the only side, as there are many positives that come with using Tor. But if you perceive the dark web as something terrible and hellish and associate it exclusively with crime, then it becomes quite obvious why the US federal government is attacking the dark web. But like most things in life, things are much more complicated.
When you think about it, the roles and responsibilities of government are so diverse that they seem to have no core business. In fact, this is not the case, because the main goal is to protect citizens and their rights. Well, more precisely, it should be so.
If we proceed from this logic, then the darknet is just such a thing that can violate the right to freedom of speech or expression, to which every citizen of the United States is entitled. Not bad, huh?
The current administration of the US government has also launched attacks on many of the industries on which the dark web depends, such as the production and distribution of drugs and the manufacture of counterfeit cash.
He is a conservative, raised in Alabama, and his views reflect that. Jefferson strongly opposes drug use, especially marijuana. He is also accused of racism and associates his racism with hatred of marijuana, since the majority of MJ consumers in the states are black.
A double-edged sword: when the rights of blacks are violated, then, it seems, you can catch a criminal record for racism. They are considered a racial "minority". At the same time, Tor users are also to some extent a minority. If the stereotype of Tor users is that they are all criminals, what should they do now?
In short, pure neutrality means that all data is treated in the same way. This prevents ISPs from charging more money for various services. This is very helpful for customers as they don't have to think twice about accessing certain websites or applications.
However, for dark web users, the removal of net neutrality can lead to devastating changes. The ISP will be able to charge additional fees for using the onion sites or simply disable them.
They can also secretly make onion sites load slower in an attempt to get people upset and stop using Tor.
Most importantly, Jefferson with drugs is already on the verge of insanity - people are starting to get high sentences for petty crimes, for example, for possessing psychoactive substances for personal use in small quantities.
A good example of this is Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, who was given life.
Operation J-CODE - e is a direct attack on the darknet markets, emphasis is placed on traders opioid drugs. A wave of arrests of buyers and dealers has already begun across the states, and trading floors are closing one after another. Jefferson is the initiator of this operation.
There are two key points in the act that make it easier for US law enforcement agencies to access PD.
1. Request PD of users from IT companies
First, from now on, law enforcement agencies (from police officers to agents of the Federal Migration Service) have the right to request access to data from IT companies, regardless of where this information is stored. In other words, the US police can oblige Google or Facebook to provide users' personal data, even if they are stored, for example, in Europe.
Given that many global IT companies are under US jurisdiction, authorities gain access to correspondence, metadata, and user accounts around the world. Companies will no longer be able to refuse to provide data, even if it is prohibited by the laws of another country (as was the case with the "Microsoft Ireland" case).
2. Provision of information to other states
The second part of the act gives the president and the US attorney general the opportunity to enter into special agreements with other states on the exchange of data. Under these agreements, countries may request user data from US IT companies, provided they [users] are not US citizens and do not reside in the US.
There are no restrictions on which countries the United States can enter into these agreements with. At the same time, the Act allows initiating such treaties between countries without the approval of Congress.
Act support
IT giants Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple and Oath (formerly Yahoo) have compiled a letter in which they approved the bill, calling it "notable progress in consumer protection." They also pointed out that the CLOUD Act will "better protect users through international agreements."
When the act was approved, Microsoft's chief legal officer, Brad Smith, tweeted that "this is an important day for international relations and the protection of personal data around the world." He also noted that the act will increase confidence in the technologies that we use every day. However, the tweet was met with clear criticism from netizens.
Fortunately, there is no such hype around the darknet in Russia yet, so I say hello to all users on the other side of the digital moon.
Classic conflict of interest
As expected, the darknet has grown into a huge self-contained ecosystem that has been shut out for so long. The original idea (from the point of view of the US government) is funny - to provide safe communication and privacy for everyone who needs it. Of course, criminals became such people in the first place.Today, one in five knows that there are hundreds of trading platforms on the dark web that sell drugs, weapons, documents, various contraband, and so on. The other side is services for hacking or various attacks, which opened up the opportunity for many to purchase a service that is relevant today: hack the girl's social network, get access to the boss's mail and other joys that cannot but surprise. In general, the stereotypes applied to the dark web are more or less well-known.
However, this is not the only side, as there are many positives that come with using Tor. But if you perceive the dark web as something terrible and hellish and associate it exclusively with crime, then it becomes quite obvious why the US federal government is attacking the dark web. But like most things in life, things are much more complicated.
When you think about it, the roles and responsibilities of government are so diverse that they seem to have no core business. In fact, this is not the case, because the main goal is to protect citizens and their rights. Well, more precisely, it should be so.
If we proceed from this logic, then the darknet is just such a thing that can violate the right to freedom of speech or expression, to which every citizen of the United States is entitled. Not bad, huh?
The current administration of the US government has also launched attacks on many of the industries on which the dark web depends, such as the production and distribution of drugs and the manufacture of counterfeit cash.
Cabinet motivation
One of the Trump Cabinet members responsible for most of these attacks is Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard.He is a conservative, raised in Alabama, and his views reflect that. Jefferson strongly opposes drug use, especially marijuana. He is also accused of racism and associates his racism with hatred of marijuana, since the majority of MJ consumers in the states are black.
A double-edged sword: when the rights of blacks are violated, then, it seems, you can catch a criminal record for racism. They are considered a racial "minority". At the same time, Tor users are also to some extent a minority. If the stereotype of Tor users is that they are all criminals, what should they do now?
Net neutrality
Well, for starters, we all know about the abolition of net neutrality. I might be a little biased in saying this, but this was probably one of the loudest legal battles between the general public and the federal government, at least regarding internet freedom.In short, pure neutrality means that all data is treated in the same way. This prevents ISPs from charging more money for various services. This is very helpful for customers as they don't have to think twice about accessing certain websites or applications.
However, for dark web users, the removal of net neutrality can lead to devastating changes. The ISP will be able to charge additional fees for using the onion sites or simply disable them.
They can also secretly make onion sites load slower in an attempt to get people upset and stop using Tor.
Fucking Jefferson Beauregard and J-code
He has already made several proposals that go against the dark web. Directly or indirectly, most of the measures he takes will have a negative impact on the darknet in the United States.Most importantly, Jefferson with drugs is already on the verge of insanity - people are starting to get high sentences for petty crimes, for example, for possessing psychoactive substances for personal use in small quantities.
A good example of this is Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, who was given life.
Operation J-CODE - e is a direct attack on the darknet markets, emphasis is placed on traders opioid drugs. A wave of arrests of buyers and dealers has already begun across the states, and trading floors are closing one after another. Jefferson is the initiator of this operation.
What is CLOUD Aсt
The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act was first proposed on February 6, 2021. The bill is an amendment to the Stored Communications Act (SCA), an act of 1986 that regulates the US government's access to data held by Internet service providers. The CLOUD Act was included in the 2,232-page document approving the state budget, so there was no separate debate on its content, as, indeed, a separate hearing in Congress.There are two key points in the act that make it easier for US law enforcement agencies to access PD.
1. Request PD of users from IT companies
First, from now on, law enforcement agencies (from police officers to agents of the Federal Migration Service) have the right to request access to data from IT companies, regardless of where this information is stored. In other words, the US police can oblige Google or Facebook to provide users' personal data, even if they are stored, for example, in Europe.
Given that many global IT companies are under US jurisdiction, authorities gain access to correspondence, metadata, and user accounts around the world. Companies will no longer be able to refuse to provide data, even if it is prohibited by the laws of another country (as was the case with the "Microsoft Ireland" case).
2. Provision of information to other states
The second part of the act gives the president and the US attorney general the opportunity to enter into special agreements with other states on the exchange of data. Under these agreements, countries may request user data from US IT companies, provided they [users] are not US citizens and do not reside in the US.
There are no restrictions on which countries the United States can enter into these agreements with. At the same time, the Act allows initiating such treaties between countries without the approval of Congress.
Act support
IT giants Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple and Oath (formerly Yahoo) have compiled a letter in which they approved the bill, calling it "notable progress in consumer protection." They also pointed out that the CLOUD Act will "better protect users through international agreements."
When the act was approved, Microsoft's chief legal officer, Brad Smith, tweeted that "this is an important day for international relations and the protection of personal data around the world." He also noted that the act will increase confidence in the technologies that we use every day. However, the tweet was met with clear criticism from netizens.
Conclusion
It doesn't matter what the US government does. Taming a beast like Tor is not an easy task, but these attempts are serious and can lead to serious consequences.Fortunately, there is no such hype around the darknet in Russia yet, so I say hello to all users on the other side of the digital moon.
