Dark Web Under Watch: Regulation, Enforcement, and the Power of Threat Intelligence Tools

May 29, 2025

Government and law enforcement agencies are increasingly treating the dark web as a serious threat. Over the past five years in particular, takedowns of marketplaces and forums have become more frequent and coordinated—a welcome and long-overdue shift. While dark web enforcement isn’t new, it has clearly gained momentum and visibility in recent years.

So, what exactly are government agencies and investigators doing to regulate, monitor, and stay ahead of dark web-enabled cybercrime? Let’s break it down.

Are There Even Enacted Regulations?

The short answer—so you can move on to the next section—is: no.

There are currently no laws that explicitly target the dark web itself. What we have instead are laws aimed at illicit activities commonly associated with the dark web.

However, a proposed bill, the Dark Web Interdiction Act, would take meaningful steps. According to Congressman Chris Pappas’ website, the bill would:

Increase criminal penalties for individuals convicted of trafficking illegal drugs on the dark web by directing the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enhance sentencing guidelines.

Strengthen and make permanent the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) task force, which has coordinated federal, state, local, and international efforts since 2018. J-CODE has already led to hundreds of arrests, major drug seizures, and marketplace takedowns.

Require a comprehensive report from the DOJ, DHS, and the Treasury Department on how cryptocurrency is being used on the dark web—plus recommendations on how Congress should address virtual currency in opioid trafficking cases.

The U.S. has historically lagged behind in addressing cybercrime. This bill is a step in the right direction—especially when it comes to drug trafficking and interagency coordination.

That said, some states do have laws that can be applied in dark web-related cases. For example, Florida Statute 934.215 – Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device—can be added as a charge when a suspect uses a device to facilitate a felony. To convict under this statute, prosecutors must show:

The defendant used a device capable of two-way communication; and

That device was used to further the commission of a felony.

Even so, this statute doesn’t specifically target the dark web—just the tools often used to commit dark web crimes.

When Lawmakers Lag, Law Enforcement Logs On

With little legislative backing, the burden of confronting the dark web has largely fallen on law enforcement. So, what exactly are they doing—and how?

Federal agencies are leading the charge, but state and local departments are getting involved as well. It seems like every week there’s a press release announcing the takedown of a forum, vendor, or marketplace. Here are the core tactics behind those headlines:

Undercover Operations: Agents go undercover in forums and marketplaces, posing as vendors, buyers, terrorists, or traffickers to infiltrate criminal networks.

Cryptocurrency Tracing: Investigators are using advanced blockchain analysis tools—often in partnership with private companies—to follow the money trail, even across anonymized transactions.

Controlled Buys: Borrowing tactics from traditional narcotics work, law enforcement is conducting digital sting operations on dark web vendors.

Cross-Agency Collaboration: Most major takedowns involve 6–9 agencies working together. Agencies like the FBI are also partnering with private-sector firms to build new intelligence pipelines and share valuable information.

One of the most powerful tools in their arsenal? The Network Investigative Technique (NIT) search warrant. These warrants authorize the use of technical tools or code to identify users operating on anonymized or encrypted networks like Tor. Think of it as a legally sanctioned hacking method used to pierce digital anonymity.

Notable Dark Web Cases

Silk Road (U.S. v. Ross Ulbricht)

The first major dark web marketplace for drugs and services (launched in 2011)

Ulbricht, aka “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to life (although recently pardoned)

Paved the way for the rise—and fall—of copycat markets

AlphaBay (Operation Bayonet)

Became the dominant market after Silk Road’s fall

Shut down in 2017 through a global operation; founder Alexandre Cazes committed suicide in custody

Showed how effective international coordination can be in disrupting cybercrime

Operation Pacifier / Playpen

FBI took control of a child exploitation site and used NITs to identify users

Led to hundreds of arrests and intense legal debate over warrant scope and privacy

Hansa Market Takedown

Dutch authorities secretly operated Hansa while AlphaBay was live

After AlphaBay’s fall, users flocked to Hansa—unaware law enforcement was in control

A strategic win that yielded a wealth of investigative intelligence

Shedding Light with DarkOwl: Giving Law Enforcement a Strategic Edge

Too often, investigators are taught how to access the dark web manually in training—only to be told by their agency that they can’t use those methods due to cybersecurity risks. That’s where DarkOwl steps in.

DarkOwl allows federal, state, and local law enforcement to access dark web intelligence—without having to log in, risk exposure, or authenticate into hidden forums.

From fraud and identity theft to weapons trafficking and the sale of stolen goods, DarkOwl’s data isn’t just for cybercrime units. It supports a wide range of investigations, like economic crime, property crimes, human trafficking, missing person, by:

🔍 Keyword searches across millions of dark/deep web records (emails, usernames, VINs, credentials, IPs, etc.)

⏱️ No direct access needed—reducing risk and operational overhead

📬 Real-time alerts when new mentions of targets appear

🤝 Multi-jurisdictional coordination, helping agencies work together to track threats and follow digital leads

Whether you’re working a fraud ring using stolen credit cards, a counterfeit ID scheme, or a local burglary ring fencing goods on dark markets, DarkOwl gives investigators the intelligence and visibility to act quickly—and safely.

In short, DarkOwl enables broader use of dark web intelligence, putting actionable data in the hands of every level of law enforcement.

As threat actors become more anonymous and their tactics more complex, having access to tools like DarkOwl is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Summary

While there are no current laws that directly regulate the dark web, law enforcement is adapting and responding aggressively. It’s an uphill battle—and it may never be fully “won”—but every arrest, takedown, and disruption counts. The more we invest in intelligence, coordination, and modern investigative tools, the better our chances of keeping communities safe in both the physical and digital worlds.