Dr James Martin, senior lecturer and convener of the criminology program in the Department of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (PICT) is actively involved with conceptualising and tracking new and emerging criminal trends on the dark net. This encrypted sub-section of the internet is a rapidly expanding site of criminal activity, ranging from transnational drug dealing and arms trafficking to money laundering and contract computer hacking services. His research in this innovative, cutting-edge area has identified unexpected benefits and opportunities for public safety and law enforcement resulting from the expansion of dark net drug crime.
To gain more insight into this dark net crime and drugs research, we asked Dr James Martin, one of our researchers in this field a few questions.
My current research focuses on cryptomarkets. These are a new type of online marketplace where people buy and sell all manner of illicit goods and services, particularly illicit drugs. Unlike surface websites such as eBay, users of cryptomarkets are protected by digital encryption, meaning that authorities are unable to find out who is hosting data or sending communications. The anonymity and ease of access to the dark net means that people are able to create and participate in globally connected black markets to a degree never seen before in modern history. This has significant and growing implications for conventional illicit markets and the organised crime groups that supply them.
When online drug dealing began to be reported in the mainstream media, it was typically accompanied by an outraged and alarmed tone that social scientists would identify as a textbook case of moral panic. I wanted to interrogate some of these ideas and try to determine whether or not many of the fears associated with online drug trading are justified. I was also fascinated by the brazenness of the whole operation.
This is an ongoing project that has taken on several different iterations. Originally the research started out as a conceptual piece exploring a novel form of cyber-criminality that, at the time, relatively few people had heard of. As online drug dealing expanded in popularity over the past three years, the research changed as well and my latest book, Drugs on the Dark Net, incorporated analyses of how online drug traders emulate marketing strategies seen in the conventional retail sector, and the different tactical, strategic and ideological challenges law enforcement agencies face in combating the online drugs trade. Most recently my research focus has shifted again to consider the ethical challenges associated with dark net research.
Although a lot of the methodologies employed in this research will be familiar, including various observational and theoretical approaches, what is new is how these methodologies are implemented in a unique and unfamiliar digital research environment. Dark net research is a rapidly expanding area and scholars are still in the process of figuring out exactly what we can, and should do when gathering, analysing and publishing data – hence the recent turn into dark net research ethics.
A lot of criminological research is about challenging well-established – and often incorrect – ideas about the nature and levels of harm associated with different types of crime, and the relative costs and benefits of law enforcement strategies. This research is consistent with this critical mode of inquiry. So far it has demonstrated that with the expansion of online illicit drug trading, there has been a reduction in street dealing, less systemic violence and organised crime, and higher quality drugs delivered more safely to consumers who have a better idea of what they are taking compared to those who buy drugs from a conventional dealer. Understanding these dynamics means that we can inform the creation of law enforcement strategies that better target more dangerous crimes and, even better, craft social policies that can help save lives and prevent crime being committed in the first place.
Dr James Martin is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. His current area of research focus concerns cryptomarkets and online drug distribution on the encrypted dark net. He is a founding member of the Cryptomarkets Research Hub, a multidisciplinary and international research network focused on the study of online black markets. His research interests include:
To gain more insight into this dark net crime and drugs research, we asked Dr James Martin, one of our researchers in this field a few questions.
What is your current research project about?
My current research focuses on cryptomarkets. These are a new type of online marketplace where people buy and sell all manner of illicit goods and services, particularly illicit drugs. Unlike surface websites such as eBay, users of cryptomarkets are protected by digital encryption, meaning that authorities are unable to find out who is hosting data or sending communications. The anonymity and ease of access to the dark net means that people are able to create and participate in globally connected black markets to a degree never seen before in modern history. This has significant and growing implications for conventional illicit markets and the organised crime groups that supply them.
Why did you decide to conduct this research?
When online drug dealing began to be reported in the mainstream media, it was typically accompanied by an outraged and alarmed tone that social scientists would identify as a textbook case of moral panic. I wanted to interrogate some of these ideas and try to determine whether or not many of the fears associated with online drug trading are justified. I was also fascinated by the brazenness of the whole operation.
At what stage is the research at?
This is an ongoing project that has taken on several different iterations. Originally the research started out as a conceptual piece exploring a novel form of cyber-criminality that, at the time, relatively few people had heard of. As online drug dealing expanded in popularity over the past three years, the research changed as well and my latest book, Drugs on the Dark Net, incorporated analyses of how online drug traders emulate marketing strategies seen in the conventional retail sector, and the different tactical, strategic and ideological challenges law enforcement agencies face in combating the online drugs trade. Most recently my research focus has shifted again to consider the ethical challenges associated with dark net research.
Are you applying any innovative methodologies in your research?
Although a lot of the methodologies employed in this research will be familiar, including various observational and theoretical approaches, what is new is how these methodologies are implemented in a unique and unfamiliar digital research environment. Dark net research is a rapidly expanding area and scholars are still in the process of figuring out exactly what we can, and should do when gathering, analysing and publishing data – hence the recent turn into dark net research ethics.
What benefits does your research provide to the community?
A lot of criminological research is about challenging well-established – and often incorrect – ideas about the nature and levels of harm associated with different types of crime, and the relative costs and benefits of law enforcement strategies. This research is consistent with this critical mode of inquiry. So far it has demonstrated that with the expansion of online illicit drug trading, there has been a reduction in street dealing, less systemic violence and organised crime, and higher quality drugs delivered more safely to consumers who have a better idea of what they are taking compared to those who buy drugs from a conventional dealer. Understanding these dynamics means that we can inform the creation of law enforcement strategies that better target more dangerous crimes and, even better, craft social policies that can help save lives and prevent crime being committed in the first place.
More about Dr James Martin
Dr James Martin is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Department of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. His current area of research focus concerns cryptomarkets and online drug distribution on the encrypted dark net. He is a founding member of the Cryptomarkets Research Hub, a multidisciplinary and international research network focused on the study of online black markets. His research interests include:
- cryptomarkets and online drug distribution
- global drug prohibition and the War on Drugs
- vigilantism and non-state policing
- transnational crime and policing
- CCTV and security networks
