We study darknet markets for a living. AMA.

Hi r/DarkNetMarkets The mods have graciously allowed us to do an AMA, and we hope you will find it interesting. We're members of a team of researchers who have studied DNMs since Silk Road and we're excited to be here today and answer your questions. Want to know what role we think DNMs have in the opioid crisis? Where we think OpenBazaar is headed? Want advice on how to end up studying DNMs like us? Learn how we keep interviewees safe? How we reconcile our positions on harm reduction and personal opinions about the war on drugs with LE wanting us to consult? Or do you just want to get a bunch of book recommendations? Shoot!

We'll be here from 6:00 PM EST until 10:00 PM EST January 31st. You'll find verification selfies of us posted on our Twitter profiles. You can also check out donations we have made to charities on behalf of vendors we interviewed.

We are currently working on a research project where we interview DNM vendors. So far we've interviewed more than 10 vendors, and have learned a bunch about who they are, and what goes on behind the scenes. We got the idea to do the AMA because a lot of vendors were interested in hearing more about our research. You can read more about the study here*, find links to all the articles and work we've done, and an endorsement from Eileen Ormsby.

Behind the usernames you will find:

We want to stress that the mods of r/DarkNetMarkets do not endorse researchers. If you contact us through the ad, please take all precautions as you would normally do. Do *NOT** contact us through our reddit profiles.


Comments


[1 Points] savingfluffybunnies:

Perfect, welcome to the murder clan.

20 minutes to show time. Please follow the rules on the sidebar & use this as an opportunity to explore what academia thinks about the DNMs.

The AMA is over. Hope you all had as much fun as I did.


[13 Points] savingfluffybunnies:

Question for the two of yas.

How & why did you get into researching the DNMs? Are you a fan of the DNMs or do you think they are another problem? Do you have any predictions on where you see the DNMs in 1, 2 or 5 years time?


[11 Points] i-n-d-e-p-e-whatever:

How do you balance working with LE and studying DNMs as not the bad guys? What exactly does the relationship with LE entail?


[7 Points] trapstar873:

How do you go about getting a vendor to trust you?


[7 Points] MandyThatGirl:

If your down with vigilante gangs in shantytown Johannesburg then do you have a good Mandrax connection?

Don't you think the Dark Net Market Scene would be greatly improved if we had access to Mandrax?

Is it true that South African Mandrax is usually just made out of Nigerian brick dust?

OVER


[6 Points] Danknugs410:

Bunch of feds


[4 Points] pymmit:

Have you ever played DnD?


[4 Points] pingobingodingo:

Thanks for doing this guys. I have a two questions if I may.

What has been your most memorable darknet experience?

You're favorite piece of drama?


[3 Points] HermanTrought:

Do you think it would be in the best interest of the markets to ban Fentanyl to avoid pressure from law enforcement organizations?


[3 Points] JamoCrim:

Alrighty, that's time! Thanks to everyone for their participation, and particularly to the mods for facilitating this. Stay safe everyone and if you'd like to get in touch with us or participate in our research, please follow the links in our ad at the top of the page :)


[2 Points] FixShitUp:

u/modestwitness, your first comment using this account identifies it as a throwaway. Have you been using other accounts to interact in darknet-related forums? If so, do you identify yourself as a researcher?


[2 Points] trapstar873:

What’s your opinion on quality control of dnm drugs vs the street? Personally i feel safer knowing we have a community that test, reviews, and discusses when someone is selling substance A, saying it’s substance B.


[2 Points] XanReflex:

In a previous reply you stated you were in favor of DNM's as "they disassociate drugs and systemic drug violence, at least at the retail level." How do you feel about fentanyl and the problems it has caused around the country? Do you believe that DNM's have exacerbated the problem?


[2 Points] CookyDough:

What questions do you ask the vendors?

Can you tell us more about the data you're soliciting from those vendors and what you're doing with that data?


[1 Points] simplemindedslut:

Thank you guys for your time and answering questions. How much do you think the DNM's contribute to the fentanyl crisis? Do you think that the DNM's are helping to eradicate it or helping fuel it?


[1 Points] only0ne-de:

What do you estimate as the total DNM volume in 2017 and what do you predict for 2018?


[1 Points] alanturingsACE:

Do you belive decentralized markets like Open Bazar are the future of DNM's?


[1 Points] pymmit:

How did you not scare vendors away?

Whenever I approached vendors or markets with data I have extracted/scraped and compiled into something they would find useful I've always scared them off.

I just want to help protect them, and get money for doing so!


[1 Points] pymmit:

Do you believe you could of completed this study anonymously, or was having subjects know your identity crucial?


[1 Points] wilsononreddit:

Do you differentiate the illegal uses for the DNMs morally? Ex. Buying people vs. buying a few grams of weed?


[1 Points] pingobingodingo:

I've already asked a question, thanks for the replies, but I have more if you don't mind.

You mentioned reconciling you person opinions when LE wants to consult. How do you do that and what do they consult you for?

Is it only the drug aspect you research or do you go deeper? What about fraud, weapons, CP, malware and all those totally legitimate hitmen?

While the arguments against the drug war are clear and many countries have either legalised cannabis and/or decriminalised say personal drug use why has no one country outright legalised it.


[1 Points] bellhead1970:

Professors,

Can you post links to your research? Eventually I would find them thru googlefu but it would take time.

Thank you


[1 Points] dror88:

Nobody actually asked: It seems that it's going the way of decentralized markets? Do you think it will be OpenBazaar, Syscoin or some other technology?


[1 Points] DareToHope:

nobody in here asked them what their DOC was??? :(