Résumés
Résumé
Dans les mois qui ont suivi le début de la pandémie de COVID-19, l’European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) a observé une utilisation accrue des cryptomarchés, ce qui amène les chercheurs à se demander si les cryptomarchés constituent un canal plus pratique pour la distribution des drogues illicites puisqu’il évite le contact physique. Cependant, les mesures pour contrer la propagation du virus ont mené à la fermeture des frontières et il est possible que les cryptomarchés aient été affectés négativement par ce changement. Cette étude vise à mesurer et à comprendre le taux de réussite des transactions sur les cryptomarchés pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, en recourant à des données autorapportées qui documentent le résultat des transactions sur les cryptomarchés. Pour collecter ces données, nous avons lancé une plateforme où les participants peuvent saisir des informations sur leurs activités antérieures sur les cryptomarchés. L’échantillon se compose de 591 entrées valides reçues entre le 1er janvier et le 21 août 2020. Des régressions logistiques sur les données des cryptomarchés avant et après l’arrivée de la pandémie ont permis d’observer les changements. Le nombre de transactions infructueuses a augmenté parallèlement à la propagation mondiale de la pandémie. La nature internationale et intercontinentale des transactions est associée à un échec de livraison. Les cryptomarchés de drogues ont probablement été perturbés en raison de la pandémie.
Mots-clés :
- Marchés de drogues illicites,
- Darkweb,
- cryptomarché,
- perturbation des marchés,
- COVID-19
Abstract
In the months following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2020) observed an increased use of cryptomarkets, leading researchers to question whether cryptomarkets constitute a more practical channel for the distribution of illicit drugs since they make it possible to avoid physical contact. However, measures to counter the spread of the virus also led to border closures and it is possible that cryptomarkets were negatively affected by this change. This study measures and evaluates the success rate of cryptomarket transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic, using self-reported data on the outcome of cryptomarket transactions. To collect self-reported data on cryptomarket transactions, we launched a platform that allowed participants to provide information about past cryptomarket activities. The sample consists of 591 valid self-reports received between January 1, 2020, and August 21, 2020. Logistic regressions on cryptomarket data before and after the onset of the pandemic allowed us to observe any changes. We found that the increase in the number of failed transactions parallelled the global spread of the pandemic, while the international and intercontinental nature of the transactions was associated with delivery failure. It is probable that cryptomarkets for drugs have been disrupted due to the pandemic.
Keywords:
- Illicit drug market,
- darkweb,
- cryptomarket,
- market disruption,
- COVID-19
Resumen
En los meses posteriores al inicio de la pandemia de COVID-19, el European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2020) observó un aumento en el uso de criptomercados, lo que llevó a los investigadores a cuestionar si los criptomercados constituyen un canal más práctico para la distribución de drogas ilícitas ya que se evita el contacto físico. Sin embargo, las medidas para contrarrestar la propagación del virus llevaron al cierre de fronteras y es posible que los criptomercados se hayan visto afectados negativamente por este cambio. Este estudio tiene como objetivo medir y comprender la tasa de éxito de las transacciones de los criptomercados durante la pandemia de COVID-19, utilizando datos autoinformados que documentan sus resultados. Para recopilar los datos autoinformados sobre las transacciones de los criptomercados, hemos lanzado una plataforma donde los participantes pueden ingresar información sobre sus actividades pasadas en los criptomercados. La muestra consta de 591 autoinformes válidos recibidos entre el 1 de enero de 2020 y el 21 de agosto de 2020. Las regresiones logísticas sobre los datos de los criptomercados antes y después del inicio de la pandemia nos permitieron observar los cambios. El número de transacciones fallidas ha aumentado en consonancia con la propagación mundial de la pandemia. La naturaleza internacional e intercontinental de las transacciones está asociada con fallas en la entrega. Es probable que los criptomercados de drogas se hayan interrumpido debido a la pandemia.
Palabras clave:
- Mercado de drogas ilícitas,
- darkweb,
- criptomercados,
- interrupción del mercado,
- COVID-19
Parties annexes
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