DICE-E: A Framework for Conducting Darknet Identification, Collection, Evaluation with Ethics

Abstract

Society's growing dependence on computers and information technologies has been matched by an escalation of the frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks committed by criminals operating from the Darknet. As a result, security researchers have taken an interest in scrutinizing the Darknet and other underground web communities to develop a better understanding of cybercriminals and emerging threats. However, many scholars lack the capability or expertise to operationalize Darknet research and are thus unable to contribute to this increasingly impactful body of literature. This article introduces a framework for guiding such research, called Darknet Identification, Collection, Evaluation, with Ethics (DICE-E). The DICE-E framework provides a focused reference point and detailed guidelines for scholars wishing to become active in the Darknet research stream. Four steps to conducting Darknet forum research are outlined: (1) identification of Darknet data sources, (2) data collection strategies, (3) evaluation of Darknet data, and (4) ethical concerns related to Darknet research. To illustrate how DICE-E can be utilized, an example empirical study is reported. This exemplar illustrates how DICE-E can guide scholars through key decision points when attempting to incorporate the Darknet within their research.

Learning from the Dark Web: leveraging conversational agents in the era of hyper-privacy to enhance marketing

“…This research has predominantly focused on the effects of P2P file sharing (and other piracy behaviors) on price sensitivity (Jain 2008, Sinha & Mandel 2008, substitution effects (Danaher et al 2010), diffusion (Givon, Mahajan & Muller 1995), and control mechanisms/policy (Sinha, Machado, & Sellman 2010). Similarly, other fields have explored traditional marketing questions, like the profitability of vendors and residual value to consumers (Holt, Smirnova, & Chua 2016), while utilizing traditional marketing approaches to guide research in this environment (Li, Chen, & Nunamaker 2016;Benjamin, Valacich, & Chen 2019). (See Table 2 for a brief summary of these papers).…”

Online Black-Markets: An Investigation of a Digital Infrastructure in the Dark

“…The research on OBMs related phenomena is limited, but relevant for our study. One reason for the scarcity of research is the challenge of accessing the empirical field (Victor Benjamin, Valacich, & Chen, 2019 ). Another is that the conceptualization of the domain has not yet stabilized, and current studies either focus on online illegal behaviors or on tools supporting fraudulent interactions rather than developing a holistic understanding of the OBM as a complex socio-technical phenomenon.…”

The Digital and Physical Footprint of Dark Net Markets

“…There are critical considerations in terms of both computer system, researcher, and human participant safety when dealing with risky and illegal consumption or when entering and studying criminal environments. While there are idiosyncrasies to our research designs, there are valuable frameworks already in place when considering dark web research, such as the Darknet Identification, Collection, Evaluation, with Ethics framework (DICE-E; Benjamin, Valacich, and Chen 2019).…”