The speaker, Queenie Lee, discusses the concept of darknets and the deep web. Darknets are private networks that offer anonymity and security, and they were originally created in the 1970s as an alternative to ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet.
Lee explains that darknets can be used for various purposes, including file sharing, journalism, and whistleblowing. They can also be used to evade surveillance and censorship.
The speaker focuses on two specific darknets: Tor and Freenet. Tor is a decentralized, node-based network that allows users to browse the internet anonymously. It uses a system of relays and exit nodes to encrypt and route user traffic. Tor also allows users to access "hidden services," which are websites that can only be accessed through the Tor network.
Freenet, on the other hand, is a peer-to-peer file-sharing network that allows users to share and download files anonymously. However, Lee notes that Freenet is slow and difficult to use.
The speaker also discusses the importance of darknets in the context of surveillance and censorship. They mention the Snowden leaks and the XKeyscore program, which is used by governments to monitor and target individuals who visit certain websites.
Overall, the speaker argues that darknets are an important tool for maintaining online anonymity and security in a world where surveillance and censorship are increasingly prevalent. They encourage the audience to learn more about darknets and the deep web, and to use these tools to protect their online freedom.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The term "darknet" was coined in the 1970s to describe networks isolated from ARPANET.
2. ARPANET was created by the US Department of Defense to share data between research laboratories and universities.
3. ARPANET eventually became the commercial internet run by private telecoms.
4. The World Wide Web was not created until 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee.
5. The internet is a massive piece of hardware that enables global communication.
6. There are hundreds of cables spanning the ocean and ground-to-satellite communication systems that make the internet work.
7. The Tor network is a decentralized anonymity network that was initially researched by the US Naval Research Laboratory.
8. The Tor network is now maintained by a 501c3 organization called the Tor Project.
9. Around 80% of the Tor Project's budget comes from the US government, with the rest coming from private donors and other governments.
10. The Tor browser allows users to browse the normal internet and access "hidden services" with a ".onion" address.
11. Hidden services are dynamic pages that can be accessed through the Tor network, but are not indexed by regular search engines.
12. The Deepweb refers to the part of the internet that is not indexed by regular search engines and can only be accessed through specialized software like Tor.
13. Freenet is a decentralized, peer-to-peer file-sharing network that is similar to BitTorrent but everything is encrypted.
14. Freenet stores files on users' hard drives, but they are encrypted, so users are not held accountable for what they are serving to the network.
15. The XKeyscore system is an SA program designed to help analysts pick targets for surveillance by searching for keywords in emails, email body content, and other types of data.
16. Linux Journal and Boing Boing are considered "extremist forums" by the XKeyscore system, which can make users who visit these sites targets for surveillance.
17. Darknets have played an important role in uprisings, journalism overseas, and in states of political turmoil.
18. Darknets became especially useful after the Snowden leaks of 2013, which revealed the extent of government surveillance.
19. Darknets can provide a way for people to access information and communicate without being judged or surveilled.