A1 Journal article (refereed)
The use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source : A three-country study (2022)


Sirola, A., Nuckols, J., Nyrhinen, J., & Wilska, T.-A. (2022). The use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source : A three-country study. Technology in Society, 70, Article 102012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102012

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Sirola, Anu; Nuckols, Julia; Nyrhinen, Jussi; Wilska, Terhi-Anna

Journal or series: Technology in Society

ISSN: 0160-791X

eISSN: 1879-3274

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 70

Article number: 102012

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102012

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82128


Abstract

The Dark Web (i.e., the anonymous web or Darknet) contains potentially harmful COVID-19-related information and content such as conspiracy theories and forged certificates. The Dark Web may particularly attract individuals who are suspicious about the pandemic, but there is no research concerning the use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source. In this study, we investigated the role of COVID-19 skepticism, online activities, and loneliness in the use of the Dark Web platforms as a COVID-19 information source.

The data (N = 3000) were gathered in April 2021 from 18 to 75-year-old respondents from Finland (n = 1000), Sweden (n = 1000) and the United Kingdom (n = 1000). The respondents were asked how often they had utilized Dark Web platforms (for example via TOR-network) as a COVID-19 information source during the pandemic. Self-reported measures of institutional trust, anti-vaccine stances, restriction obedience, online activities, and loneliness were used as predictors in the logistic regression model. Age, gender, and education were also included in the model.

The Dark Web use was more prevalent in the UK and Sweden. There was an association between anti-vaccine stances and active Dark Web use in the UK and Sweden, while low institutional trust predicted use among Finnish respondents. In all countries, restriction disobedience was related to Dark Web use as a COVID-19 information source. Frequent online gambling, increased social media use, and loneliness predicted Dark Web use, and these associations were even stronger among frequent Dark Web users than occasional users. Younger age and male gender were also associated with Dark Web use.

The unregulated nature of the Dark Web makes it a risky alternative to COVID-19 information, attracting individuals who are suspicious about the pandemic and overall active online users. Misleading information and availability of forged certificates on the Dark Web challenge official health policies, posing significant risks for both individual and public health.


Keywords: pandemics; COVID-19; vaccine hesitancy; information sources; online material; anonymity networks; social media; anonymity; trust; international comparison

Free keywords: anonymity; COVID-19; Dark web; misinformation; online information; social media


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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-22-04 at 21:09