(I am writing an essay on the dark net)
To what extent did the Silk Road and/or the dark net create a moral panic in the media?
(I am writing an essay on the dark net)
[4 Points] BillTheCommunistCat:
[4 Points] None:
To no extent. There wasn't any moral panic. I imagine some websites that employ writers who are lazy/incompetent/liars (you know, the Daily Mail, Huff post etc.) reported a panic but there was no panic, moral or otherwise, to be found.
I think for an essay you should stick with facts as there are as many opinions as there are people.
[3 Points] gwern:
I don't think there was much of a moral panic. Certainly nothing like the Satanic cult panic in the USA or the otaku-killer in Japan. Yes, Silk Road got some hostile coverage and it's incredibly persistent how the media thinks you could buy CP and hitmen on it, but it was never wall to wall coverage or legislators proposing laws to attack it like in a proper panic. It would be hard since so many people are sympathetic to drug legalization these days.
[1 Points] OzFreelancer:
I certainly think there were some attempts at creating a moral panic, especially in some of the tabloid media. We saw a few "Won't somebody think of the children" pieces that were all about how easy it is for little Johnny to buy heroin from his bedroom.
60 Minutes did one of these, where facts were twisted or overstated purely to stir up parents who have little understanding but are sure their children would never approach Shady Steve the dealer on the corner, but might get tempted by the ease of buying drugs over the internet.
I did an analysis on that piece: The truth behind 60 Minutes hyperbole of the dark web
Most of the tabloid features can't help but throw in mentions of CP and hitmen as well, just to up the hysteria level.
That said, coverage was sporadic and not saturation. But I think these reports meant that the three letter agencies put disproportionate resources into shutting down Silk Road.
What do you mean by a moral panic?