Why Did Contract Killings on the Dark Web Reveal 'Everyday People'?

4. When a Journalist Needs to Call a Victim

If you discovered a terrible crime plot, but the police couldn't act immediately, what would you do?

Miller's team handed over the murder list to the police, but immediate investigation was difficult due to issues like international jurisdiction. They made a tough decision that crossed the ethical boundaries of a journalist: directly calling potential victims to warn them. A recording of a phone call with a woman in Zurich, revealed during a lecture, is shocking. She responds, "I'm not surprised at all," immediately suspecting her husband amidst a horrible divorce battle. This highlighted once again how serious a motive domestic violence can be.

This 'Digital Vigilantism' raises questions about the essence of leadership. When existing systems can't keep up with new types of threats, who should act? Miller's team chose to take action, but this leaves a complex debate about the extent of media involvement.

5. Where Do We Draw the Line?

Is this all just stories from the underbelly of the dark internet that don't concern us?

Consider the phenomenon in South Korea where some 'Errand Centers' (Sim-bu-reum Center) have been corrupted as tools for illegal surveillance or harassment. The desire to outsource 'dirty work' isn't exclusive to a particular culture. Just as Korea's errand centers stand on the line between legitimate errands and illegal privacy invasions, 'Besa Mafia' is simply a service where that desire has met technology and become extreme. We must face the reality where everyday disputes spill over into violence, rather than imagining the hitman (Cheongbu-salin) from movies.

At the beginning, I stated I would like to read this story as one about 'the dark impulse within us.' Though 'Besa Mafia' was a scam, thanks to their data, investigative agencies like the FBI were able to arrest 32 people and convict 28 FBI Cyber Crime. Ironically, the fake murder service provided evidence to prevent real murder intentions.

"They thought it was a secret, but it wasn't." Carl Miller's words apply to us all. Restoring the lowered line of prohibition through technology ultimately falls to systems and communities.