Dark Web Podcast Outline

Nisbett / EN 102 / Spring 2019

Title: “The Dark Web”- Is it impacting our society?

Synthesized Purpose:​ In today's society, the internet plays a huge role in interaction and
communication. As technology advances, internet web pages called “The Dark Web” have given
users access to a broad market of illegal goods. On the other hand, the Dark Web gives the
ability for users to reach out who don't have access to the internet. Ultimaley, one of the most
difficult questions to answer asks: is the dark web positively or negatively impacting our society.

Synthesized Message:​ The discussion leads our group to the conclusion that the dangerous Dark
Web is negatively impacting our society…. The group also posted a new question: what effect
does the Dark Web have in oppressed countries? How does society fight against it? Is it good to
have a free form of Internet the government cannot watch?

Design/Style & Tone:​ The style of this podcast will be a casual conversation, while providing
important pieces throughout and with the attention to attract and acknowledge the listening
audience. Each group member will discuss their topic and findings while other members actively
engage in conversation. In order to do this, asking questions, giving persuasive examples and
personal experience helps the claim. In the podcast, we plan to include opening and closing
uncopyrighted music to enhance our discussion.

Organization: ​We’ll begin the discussion with points and arguments on how the Dark Web is
negatively impacting our society. After making these points, we will then focus on the positive
aspects of the dark web and ask the question: is it a good from of internet that does not involve
the government?

Detailed Outline:

1. Opening
a. Introduce speakers (David, Will, and Seth)
b. Brief introduction to the ​Context ​surrounding digital culture and the ways we connect to it on a
daily basis.
c. Brief introduction of the ​Synthesized Purpose
2.​ ​Persuasive Dialogue #1 ​(David)- In today’s society, the suspicious and dangerous “Dark Web” is
going mainstream at a rapid pace. Unlike other internet websites or search engines, the dark web uses
different software, structure or authorization for access. On this webpage, the user will have access to
credit card numbers, all means of drugs, guns, counterfeit money, and even hacked software or virus
codes. The dark web is a hub for criminals that needs to be shut down.

A.​ ​ ​Original Thesis​: Due to Tor software being so accessible and undetectable online, the dangerous dark
web is becoming more mainstream having negative effects, because of its thriving market places, new
social media platforms expanding to dark web users as well as an overall success with the cryptocurrency
Bitcoin.

B. Appeal to ​Logos ​by showing how these types of marketplaces, social media platforms and the
cryptocurrency bitcoin is impacting our society in a negative way.

1. (Article): “A Marketer’s Guide to the Dark Web.”- Ashley Madison, hacking, and illegal
market places
1. Evidence (Webpage): "Advantages, Disadvantages and Risks of Deep Web Search
Engines." -Facebook and its involvement with the Dark Web
2. Evidence (Webpage): “Moonday Mornings: Dark Web Bitcoin Transactions Doubled in
2018.”- Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency impacts

C.​ ​Facilitating Questions​: What is the motive to get on the Dark Web? How many illegal items pass
through the mail everyday? What is the age group using the Dark Web? If these sites can be useful, why
aren't we hearing about the positives?

Transition​: How should internet users be aware of this issue? What is being sold and how?
Move forward to ask what can be done and start to bring up conclusion...

3. ​Persuasive Dialogue # 2 ​(Will) – The dark web is a massive black market where anything
goes, you buy guns, drugs, bank accounts or just about anything you want to get your hands on.
It is home to all sorts of different criminals who use its anonymity to their advantage. It is
unarguably a terrible place that should be shut down, but never will be.

-gov created the dark web as a platform to use the internet without any identity
- government created a program called TOR, meant to conceal the location and IP address of US
operatives who used the software. Not so long after, people started to use it as a underground
internet, to buy and sell things most people can't get there hands on aka illegal things. After the
creation of bitcoin, the dark web took off. Bitcoin added a untraceable way of payment, perfect
for criminal activity and money laundering. Sites like “silk road” started to pop up, places where
you can buy basically anything you want. Silk road was shut down, but months later “silk road
2.0” popped up. The dark web will always be around, it is impossible to kill.

- the government spies on every US citizen.

-the government spied on people on sites like Google, Apple and Xbox Live chat rooms, the
government even went as far to collect phone records from verizon. That means they could see
every phone call and text you ever sent

-Think of all the extremely personal information that can be found on ones phone or computer,
the government has access to all of it.

-The dark web is important to society because it gives people the freedom that was guaranteed to
us in the constitution. With the internet being such a huge part of everyone's daily life, there
should be laws against the government spying on anyone using a phone or computer. But since
Snowden exposed the incredibly unethical ways NSA and the CIA spies on us, we know this is
not the case.

- the dark web is a useful, important tool for journalist and others who want to keep the powerful
in check. There have been many cases of whistleblowers who use the dark webs anonymity to
their advantage.

-Almost every major news site uses the dark web to gather information (The Guardian,
Washington Post) and without it we wouldn't have sites like wikileaks who have exposed such
alarming, negative information about the government that every American has the right to know.

A.​ ​Original Thesis​: The majority of the dark web is used for unethical practices that no one can deny,
however there are some aspects of the dark web which can be beneficial for society.

1. Appeal to ​Pathos ​& ​Logos ​by discussing the amount of drugs and guns are being sold via dark
web.
1. Discussion: 500,000 dollars a day via drug sales
2. Discuss how the dark web is detrimental to society due to all the drugs, guns and other
unethical things on the dark web.
2. Facilitating Questions​: Since the dark, web is basically impossible to shut down, what should we
do about it? Is it good to have a completely free side of the internet where the government cannot
spy on you?
Transition​: Edward Snowden exposed that government spied on people on sites like Google,
Apple and Xbox Live chat rooms, the government even went as far to collect phone records from
verizon. Should we have a free form of internet? It has helped in some aspects of society, but
been awful in others.

4. ​Persuasive Dialogue # 3 ​(Seth) –The deep web is typically thought of as a place where drugs,
guns, snuff films and other illegal activities. We’ve all seen youtube videos of “deep web
mystery box openings” and deep web stories or have read stories online. Typically, these claims
are often personal accounts and/or have no proof of being real. Youtubers have even been called
out or even admitted to faking deep web videos. All this makes people think the deep web is a lot
worse than it is, only 5% of the deep web is estimated to be illegal. It’s also use legally by
private citizens to protect their privacy, share banned media, while journalists and
whistleblowers may utilize it to protect themselves when reporting or leaking information.
Lastly, governments may use the deep web to protect communications, gather intelligence, and
to infiltrate terrorist groups.

​ riginal Thesis​: ​Despite most of the public thinking that the deep web is a place solely used
A.​ O
for criminal activity, I will review the facts to support the notion that the deep web has many
legal uses

1. Appeal to ​Logos ​by sharing information from my essay/sources.

Chakraborty, Roshni. “The Deep Web: For the Nefarious or Democratic?” ​Harvard

In​ ternational Review​, vol. 39, no. 4, 2018, pp. 18–21. ​MasterFILE Premier​, Deep Web.

Cox, Joseph. “The Dark Web as You Know It Is a Myth.” ​Wired​, Conde Nast, 20 July 2017,

www.wired.com/2015/06/dark-web-know-myth/.

Finklea, Kristen. “Dark Web.” ​Congressional Research Service​, 7 July 2015. University of

Alabama Libraries’ Classic Catalog, https://congressional.proquest.com/congressional

/docview/t21.d22.crs-2015-dsp-0309?accountid=14472

Simmon, Tobby, and Michael Chertoff. “The Impact of the Dark Web on Internet Governance

and Cyber Security.” ​Global Commission on Internet Governance​, ser. 6, Feb. 2015.
 www.cigionline.org/sites/default/files/gcig_paper_no6.pdf​.

Somers, Jude. YouTube, YouTube, 4 Nov. 2018,​ ​www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

wwxJwZ8iG4.

1. Questions​:How can students use it? Is the deep web relevant to the average person?

Transition​: What can we take from this is that using the deep web is relatively safe and legal
and people should be aware of it uses but also be aware that there is absolutely illegal stuff and
can be dangerous.

5. Conclusion
a. Discussion of ​Synthesized Message ​and how all three ideas fit together.
b. Leaving the audience with ​ways to move forward ​on this topic:

-Need to hold people accountable