Study: Trade in DNMs increased after Ross was sentenced to life

The study also found that media coverage of LE targeting markets increased trade, probably because more people got to know about them.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azx021

For people without university access: http://academic.oup.com.secure.sci-hub.io/bjc/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/bjc/azx021/3760066/We-Know-Where-You-Are-What-You-Are-Doing-and-We?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Abstract

Is crime reduced by highly publicized punishment events? Is crime reduced by law enforcement's public relations work? These longstanding questions are addressed in a novel context--digital drug markets. An analysis of trade data from two large and illegal e-commerce websites, collected on a daily basis for ten months, examined how market revenue was affected by (1) media coverage of police work on such markets and (2) the highly publicized conviction and life-sentencing of a market founder. Trade increased after periods with elevated media coverage, and also after the two court events. Possible explanations for the increase in trade after the trial outcomes are discussed in an analysis of textual conversations in three online forums associated with illegal e-commerce.


Comments


[33 Points] None:

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[2 Points] earthmoonsun:

Even from the government's corrupt POV this was a stupid move. Free publicity and awareness that you can make a lot of money with a DNM and that you have to be more careful than DPR. So, in the end, they made it harder for themselves to find drug dealers, and easier for customers to get drugs.