UK Allocates £9 Million to Combat the Darknet and Cybercrime
The UK government has taken the initiative to seek new solutions in the fight against the darknet and the anonymity it provides to criminals. The Home Secretary announced the creation of a dedicated fund of £9 million to be used by specialized UK law enforcement agencies in this digital battle.
Criminal Activity on the Dark Web
In her statement, Home Secretary Amber Rudd used strong language to describe the criminal activity enabled by the anonymous environment of the darknet, calling it an “extremely dark and dangerous place that poses a threat to everyone.” All kinds of illegal goods are sold on the dark web, from drugs and weapons to malware and hacking tools that can facilitate various cyberattacks. UK law enforcement agencies struggle to track darknet users because the anonymity ecosystem leaves virtually no trace of transactions, which is a significant obstacle.
The substantial fund now at the disposal of UK law enforcement is expected to be used to develop technologies that will help track and identify criminals operating on the dark side of the internet.
Budget Details
The UK government has already set aside a reserve of £50 million in its budget to fight cybercrime in general. The £9 million for combating the darknet and creating a special fund comes from this reserve. Additionally, another £5 million has been allocated to UK police to create exclusive cybercrime units within their regional and local structures.
The Home Secretary spoke at a related event, sharing information about the proposed funding. Observers are eager to see how the government plans to find solutions to stop illegal trade on the dark web.
Encrypted Data Challenges
The darknet, like any modern ecosystem, uses various encryption algorithms to ensure the security of its participants. Naturally, today’s cybercriminals use tools like the Tor Browser, VPNs, dedicated servers, and other anonymity tools, which create barriers for law enforcement agencies.
Essentially, law enforcement currently lacks ready-made technologies to decrypt data—even if a person is under suspicion, their technical skills and knowledge may be enough to hide all traces of their crimes. The only effective method that has consistently worked in the global fight against the darknet is the successful search for indirect evidence and the ability to link it to specific individuals. For example, the creator of Silk Road was identified after using his email address on a psilocybin mushroom growers’ forum.
Law enforcement also tries to work through courier and postal services, which are known to deliver most products from darknet marketplaces in Europe and the US. This is why the UK has decided on a technological approach: rather than just searching for indirect evidence, they want to operate within the darknet itself, improving their knowledge and technical capabilities to investigate and catch cybercriminals.
Public Awareness Campaign
Moreover, the UK government has allocated another £3 million to fund a campaign to inform the public about cybercrime. The campaign aims to spread information about cybercrime, the darknet, various types of online fraud, and more. The goal is to encourage citizens to increase their knowledge of cybersecurity and protect their personal data.
Summary
In total, £17 million has already been allocated to fight cybercrime in the UK since the beginning of 2018. Time will tell how effective these measures will be.