Lok Sabha Question No. 4076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-23
Subject: Use of Deep/Dark Web by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 4076

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 23.12.2015

## USE OF DEEP/DARK WEB BY ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA

## 4076 SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

## SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Deep/Dark Web is being used by the Islamic State (ISIS) for its communication and recruitment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether presently it is impossible to decode the contents of deep web making it more lethal;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has hired or proposes to hire experts who can decode the deep/dark web and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) and  (b):    Internet  has  an  extraordinary  reach  particularly  in  the  field  of  information  sharing  and dissemination and has resulted in several advantages to the society. The term 'deep web' is used to denote a  class  of  content  on  the  Internet  that  is  not  visible  to  general  browsing  and  not  indexed  by search  engines.    'Dark  web'  is  part  of  'Deep  web'  that  has  been  intentionally  hidden  and  is inaccessible through standard web browsers.

Dark  web  sites  serve  as  a  platform  for  users  for  anonymity.  Dark  web  has  the  potential  to  host malicious services and activities due to inherent anonymous nature. The ability to traverse the Internet with  complete  anonymity  provides  specific  advantage  to  adversaries  to  conduct  illegal/malicious activities.

The  hidden  eco  system  of  the  Dark  web  and  its  potential  use  for  malicious  activities  provides  a conducive  environment  for  terrorist  purposes  including  propaganda,  recruitment,  financing  and planning disruptive activities. There has been an increasing concern across the world regarding the use of  Dark  web  to  perpetrate  terrorist  attacks.  Several  reports  have  been  published  in  the  media  about usage of Dark web by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

(c) and  (d):  Traditional  search  engines  are  prevented  from  indexing  the  deep  web  pages  by  using techniques  such as dynamic content, pages without back links (unlinked pages), sites requiring login, pages  with  limited  access  content  etc.  Dark  web  technologies  such  as  The  Onion  Routing  (TOR) provide restricted access as well as prevent monitoring through use of encryption.

(e): In view of increasing use of Dark web to carry out malicious activities, the issue of development of effective  technical  solution  has  been  engaging  the  attention  of  academia  and  research  community worldwide.  Government is in touch with academia and research institutions to evolve and engage in suitable research activities in this area.

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