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BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

bbc.co.uk

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Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#21

Post by [deleted] »

_Understated_ wrote: post #15
toby- wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people understand Tor to be the 'dark web', so I wouldn't call it clickbait. Hell, it is the dark web. It's you who's wrongly associating it with paedophilia and drugs (both amply available on the 'clearnet') IMO, which does quite a disservice to attempts to promote Tor to the newly privacy-conscious. 'Dark' means hidden, not 'evil'.

Straight away in the article they spell it out and make the link between Tor and the dark web: > The Tor browser is privacy-focused software used to access the dark web Yes it is. But that's the worst thing it's used for. It's like saying 12-gauge shotguns are used for bank robberies... Ok, I'm stretching the point but it's needlessly putting the association of privacy focused browsing using Tor with the nasty shit t…

[deleted]

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#23

Post by rimliu »

toby- wrote: post #8
_Understated_ wrote: post #6

Not a fan of the clickbait title... Seems a bit unfair to equate wanting to protect privacy with the dark web where people associate it with drugs and paedophiles and whatnot. Very clickbaity from the BBC.

Most people understand Tor to be the 'dark web', so I wouldn't call it clickbait. Hell, it is the dark web. It's you who's wrongly associating it with paedophilia and drugs (both amply available on the 'clearnet') IMO, which does quite a disservice to attempts to promote Tor to the newly privacy-conscious. 'Dark' means hidden, not 'evil'.

Just like "dark side of the Moon" does ot mean "unlit" (it gets the same amount of the sun as any other side), but that signals from that side don't reach Earth.

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#24

Post by luckylion »

_Understated_ wrote: post #19
luckylion wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yes it is. But that's the worst thing it's used for. The "dark" in dark web doesn't mean "bad", it's darkness to prying eyes. If you buy drugs on the dark web, it's the dark web. If you read literature on the dark web that your government doesn't want you to read, it's the dark web as well. The negative connotations you're associating with it are what this step by the BBC will help reduce: pointing out that the cri…

My bad. I always assumed it meant bad stuff. On that note, I bet if you asked non-techs what they think "dark web" means they'd think nasty stuff.

Sure, the public's exposure to the term so far has pretty much only been in connection to nasty stuff.

That will change when more normal stuff is available on the dark web and the privacy aspect gets more pronounced (privacy being a major topic these days). And "we're providing access to the free internet to everyone living in countries with authoritarian regimes that try to restrict information and oppress their citizens" is a powerful narrative. They'll be less likely to consider it evil if it's compared to the BBC German Service during WW2, broadcasting to Germany in German, unrestricted by the Nazi government.

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#26

Post by soulofmischief »

_Understated_ wrote: post #15
toby- wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people understand Tor to be the 'dark web', so I wouldn't call it clickbait. Hell, it is the dark web. It's you who's wrongly associating it with paedophilia and drugs (both amply available on the 'clearnet') IMO, which does quite a disservice to attempts to promote Tor to the newly privacy-conscious. 'Dark' means hidden, not 'evil'.

Straight away in the article they spell it out and make the link between Tor and the dark web: > The Tor browser is privacy-focused software used to access the dark web Yes it is. But that's the worst thing it's used for. It's like saying 12-gauge shotguns are used for bank robberies... Ok, I'm stretching the point but it's needlessly putting the association of privacy focused browsing using Tor with the nasty shit t…

Umm... the Tor network is the dark web. Like OP said, you're conflating these two topics.

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#28

Post by frereubu »

_Understated_ wrote: post #6

Not a fan of the clickbait title... Seems a bit unfair to equate wanting to protect privacy with the dark web where people associate it with drugs and paedophiles and whatnot. Very clickbaity from the BBC.

After the fourth sentence there's an explainer video on what the dark web is, including the fact that it's "often associated with" the things you list, but that "it can also be used to protect whistle blowers or give people access to social networks in countries where they are banned." Hardly seems like clickbait to me.

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#29

Post by MiroF »

_Understated_ wrote: post #6

Not a fan of the clickbait title... Seems a bit unfair to equate wanting to protect privacy with the dark web where people associate it with drugs and paedophiles and whatnot. Very clickbaity from the BBC.

I don't see the problem, Tor is the 'dark web.'

Re: BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror

#30

Post by rahoulb »

_Understated_ wrote: post #15
toby- wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people understand Tor to be the 'dark web', so I wouldn't call it clickbait. Hell, it is the dark web. It's you who's wrongly associating it with paedophilia and drugs (both amply available on the 'clearnet') IMO, which does quite a disservice to attempts to promote Tor to the newly privacy-conscious. 'Dark' means hidden, not 'evil'.

Straight away in the article they spell it out and make the link between Tor and the dark web: > The Tor browser is privacy-focused software used to access the dark web Yes it is. But that's the worst thing it's used for. It's like saying 12-gauge shotguns are used for bank robberies... Ok, I'm stretching the point but it's needlessly putting the association of privacy focused browsing using Tor with the nasty shit t…

One of my teenage daughter's friends saw a Tor icon on my laptop and asked if I was looking for drugs, child porn or wanted someone murdering.

I would say to most people, if they have heard of the "dark web" then they think it exists exclusively for "the nasty shit".

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