Hello lovely folk! Welcome back to another episode of STEM on the Streets and if you are new here, my name is Aiza and this is my partner CAI! Click on the button to read the previous episode:
Warnings
Mention of Illegal substances
Mention of Weapons
If you do not feel comfortable with the topics mentioned above, I strongly advise against continuing.
What was The Silk Road?
To some, the Silk Road was a Eurasian trade route, and to others, it was a forbidden idea formulated and crafted for the pure thrill of 'forbidden'—or more. The Silk Road was an illegal website created—envisioned—as a free-market economy, a place where anything could be bought without government intervention. And the inventor, the birth-giver to this prohibited haven: Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR)- Ross Ulbricht, a libertarian with a deep mistrust of central authority.
The Silk Road, to DPR, was more than just a website but an idea for a libertarian utopia.
(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Aiza, you forgot to explain The Dark Web.
Oh, you can do that.
The Dark Web
(✿◡‿◡)CAI: The Silk Roads was a platform created on The Dark Web. The Dark Web is a secretive section of the internet that eludes discovery by conventional search engines. Accessible only through special software such as Tor (The Onion Router), the Dark Web offers users a cloak of anonymity by directing their internet traffic through a network of volunteer-operated servers, making it exceedingly challenging to track their online activities. Renowned for its emphasis on privacy and discretion, the Dark Web harbours a diverse array of content, ranging from illicit marketplaces and forums to noble endeavours such as safeguarding the identities of activists and journalists. Websites on the Dark Web commonly have .onion domains and are exclusively reachable through the Tor browser.
The Rise of The Silk Road
The Silk Road had been prospering beyond measure, with around 100,000 active users, both buyers and sellers. From 2011-2013, it operating years, The Silk Road was one of the largest markets on The Dark Web, facilitating millions of dollars of transactions.
Some of the most common things being bought on The Silk Road were recreational drugs. Not only were there drugs being sold on the sight but also firearms, forged documents, hacking tools, and even hitman services (though the latter were never conclusively proven).
(✿◡‿◡)CAI: Really?! So like people, were selling and buying all of these?!
Yeah, like about 100,000 people. And like other e-commerce platforms, sellers were making money.
(✿◡‿◡)CAI: And nobody got caught?
Once again, everything was private. One thing that made The Silk Roads stand out, and ensure privacy, was Bitcoin. At that time Bitcoin was relatively new and was a digital currency that allowed anonymous exchange- therefore evading law enforcement and furthering the appeal to sellers.
Ulbricht, known by the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts, ran the website in utmost secrecy. He garnered a legendary reputation within the Silk Road community, frequently advocating his libertarian beliefs. To him, the platform represented more than just a hub for illegal transactions; it symbolized a challenge to oppressive governments and constraining legislation. DPR engaged with users through forums, emphasizing transparency in all aspects, except for his true identity.
And that is all for today! Stay tuned for the next episode, part two of this one, in which we dive into the investigation and more!
Until next time! This is Aiza Jamil, signing out!
I am a forensics sleuth, what's your mystery to solve?
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