Some Dark Web Users Share Traits with Those Involved in Crime

Using a national survey of 1,750 U.S. adults, a new study finds that dark web users are far more likely to have prior criminal convictions, lower self-control, and peers engaged in cyber deviance.

The dark web is sometimes seen as a shadowy part of the internet, but it also has legitimate uses, including accessing censored information and sharing files securely. Its anonymity and privacy features, however, can make it appealing to those drawn to riskier or illicit online activity.

As interest in the dark web grows, researchers are taking a closer look at who accesses it. The platform creates conditions where motivated offenders, potential victims and little oversight converge, and traits like low self-control and peer influence may help explain who is drawn to it. Yet criminology-based studies comparing dark web and surface web users are scarce.

To help fill that gap, research from Florida Atlantic University and collaborators analyzed survey data collected from a national sample of 1,750 adults in the United States, examining whether factors such as prior criminal behavior, low self-control, deviant peer groups and attitudes toward crime are linked to self-reported dark web use.

The researchers first examined whether people who reported having a criminal record were more likely to have accessed the dark web. Next, they looked at self-control, assessing whether individuals with lower self-control - a trait tied to impulsive and risk-taking behavior - were more likely to use the platform. Finally, they explored the role of social influences and attitudes by analyzing whether having more peers who engage in online deviance, as well as holding more favorable views toward rule-breaking and violence, were associated with dark web access.

Results of the study, published in the Journal of Crime and Justice, reveal clear differences between dark web users and surface web users across each of the criminological factors examined. About one-third of dark web users reported a prior criminal conviction - nearly three times the rate of surface web users (33.6% vs. 12.6%). They also scored significantly higher on measures of low self-control, peer cyber deviance, and criminal attitudes, including support for larceny, online deviance, and especially concerning, physical violence against others.

Across all models, being male and being younger were also linked to a higher likelihood of dark web use, with some models also suggesting that being heterosexual and having more education is also associated with dark web use.

Overall, these findings suggest that past criminal behavior, impulsiveness, social influences and favorable attitudes toward deviance all play a role in who chooses to access the dark web, providing strong empirical support for criminological theories in this digital context.

"It's important to be clear: accessing the dark web is not inherently deviant or illegal, and it supports many legitimate activities, from private communication to accessing censored information," said Ryan C. Meldrum, Ph.D., senior author and director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice within FAU's College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. "What our research shows, however, is that the platform also tends to attract some individuals whose behavioral, social and attitudinal profiles resemble those involved in criminal activity. In this sense, the dark web is a risky digital environment - one that can facilitate crime and increase the likelihood of victimization, all while operating under limited law enforcement oversight."

Supplemental analyses from the study reveal that social learning factors may help explain why low self-control links to dark web access. Specifically, nearly half of the connection between low self-control and using the platform appears to be explained through the peers individuals associate with and the attitudes they form. This suggests that people with lower self-control may select peers who reinforce risky or deviant behaviors and attitudes, giving them the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the dark web.

The study underscores the need for further research into the small but important subpopulation of internet users who access the dark web, particularly those with the intent to engage in illicit activities.

"As the internet continues to evolve, understanding who accesses the dark web and why is critical," Meldrum said. "Our study points to the importance of balancing awareness of potential risks with recognition of the legitimate, everyday uses of these hidden online spaces."

Study co-authors are Raymond D. Partin, Ph.D., Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Alabama; and Peter S. Lehmann, Ph.D., Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Sam Houston State University.

-FAU-