The “dark web” has become infamous as a place where any sort of illegal activity can happen, but it is more complex than that, says Sarah Kocianski, head of research at 11:FS, the fintech think tank.
She highlights how it can be accessed only with special software, such as Tor, distinguishing it from the surface web - that which is indexable by search engines - and the deep web, which is indexable only by specialised search engines.
The dark web can throw up many strange things, notably assassination markets - whereby people can place bets on when a public figure will die - and quirky nostalgia, such as a recent offer to sell a floppy disc.
However, it is also a place for people in oppressive regimes to gain freedom of speech through anonymity, as well as a positive force for illegal drug markets, where substances are safer than they are on the streets.