Abstract
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has led to the emergence of the dark web as a distinct and anonymised segment of the internet, raising signi;icant concerns within the domain of cyber law and criminal liability. While existing scholarship has examined cybercrime broadly, there remains limited doctrinal analysis speci;ically addressing dark web-related legal challenges within the Indian legal framework, a gap this study seeks to address. The study aims to examine the legal dimensions of activities associated with the dark web within the framework of Indian cyber and criminal law. The research adopts a doctrinal and analytical methodology, relying on statutory provisions, judicial decisions, and academic literature to evaluate the applicability of existing legal frameworks. The ;indings indicate that while the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and evidentiary laws provide a foundational basis for addressing cyber offences, their application in anonymised and decentralised digital environments presents signi;icant interpretative and practical challenges. Key issues identi;ied include dif;iculties in attribution of liability, jurisdictional limitations in cross-border offences, and constraints in the collection and admissibility of digital evidence. The study further highlights that enforcement challenges, including limitations in forensic infrastructure and dependence on international cooperation mechanisms, signi;icantly affect the effectiveness of legal responses. It is concluded that effective regulation of dark web-related activities requires a coordinated approach involving legislative reform, institutional capacity building, and technological integration to ensure robust cybercrime governance in India.
Keywords: Criminal Liability, Cybercrime, Cyber Law Enforcement, Dark Web, Digital Evidence.