Case study: drug trade on the Polish darknet
Piotr Siuda, Patrycja Hewelt · 2026
The case study explores the digital ethnography of Cebulka, the only Polish-language darknet market dedicated to the online drug trade. Using this community as a focal point, the chapter focuses on ethical and methodological dilemmas related to accessing hard-to-reach and stigmatized groups and negotiating entry with community administrators. Releasing control over the research process by allowing admins to set the terms of ethnography is presented as a means of gaining deeper insight into the studied groups and maintaining ethical integrity. The findings contribute to discussions on digital ethnography, online drug trade, and the role of researcher-community interaction in sensitive environments.