Title of Study: The Emergence and Diffusion of Illicit Virtual Goods across the International Ecosystem Principal Investigators: Georgia State University and Northeastern University 

 Name of Investigators: Ekaterina Botchkovar, Yubao Wu, David Maimon 

Request to Participate in Research or Terms and Conditions 

We would like to invite you to take part in a research study. The purpose of this research is to understand how economic transactions are made on Darknet forums and markets and to identify ways in which people make decisions on whether or not to engage in these transactions. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. The study will be entirely online and will take about 5-6 minutes of your time. If you decide to take part in this study, we will ask you to fill out a short survey here. The risks related to participation in the study are minimal. While there is a remote chance of feeling uncomfortable responding to some questions, you can terminate your participation in the project at any moment without any consequences for you. There are no direct benefits to you from participating in the study. You will not be paid for your participation. However, your answers may help us understand how markets work in the world of the Darkweb. 

You will be participating in the study anonymously. That means no one will know if you took part in this study and no one, including the researcher, will know what your answers are. Your IP address will not be logged. 

Any reports or publications based on this research will use only group data and will not identify you or any individual as being on this project. The decision to participate in this research project is up to you. You do not have to participate, and you can refuse to answer any question. Even if you begin the study, you may withdraw at any time. If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact us. 

 If you have any questions about your rights in this research, you may contact Anita Balgopal, Director, Human Subject Research Protection, Mail Stop: 560-177, 360 Huntington Avenue, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115. Tel: 617.373.4588, Email: [email protected]. You may call anonymously if you wish. By clicking on the “I Agree” button below you are indicating that you consent to participate in this study. You can print out a copy of this consent screen or download a copy of the consent form for your records. Thank you! 

 Privacy Policy 1. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of information we collect, how we use it, and the measures we take to ensure your information remains secure. 2. We collect your response information only. No personal information, including your IP address, is recorded or retained.  3.  We use the collected information to analyze survey responses and gather insights for research purposes. 4.  We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your response data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Please note that your responses cannot be linked to you in any way.