Cutting kids off from the dark web – the solution can only ever be social

UK experts and authorities, prompted by the Brianna Ghey case, debate restricting children’s access to the dark web, with former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin noting technical limits to blocking tools like Tor and advocating education over purely technical fixes. The piece raises concerns about the Online Safety Act’s potential impact on encryption and reports NCA findings that 20% of 10–16-year-olds exhibit behaviors violating the Computer Misuse Act, urging parents and teachers to guide youth toward lawful, constructive cyber skills.