Study Programmes 2016-2017
DROI1317-1  
Cybercrime
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in law (120 ECTS)6
Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)5
Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)5
Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)6
Lecturer :
Vanessa Franssen
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
This course will analyse cybercrime in its various components and aspects, taking a both legal and criminological approach.
In particular, the course will focus on the following subjects:
  • Presentation of the phenomenon of cybercrime, the criteria for criminalisation and a typology of the perpetrators;
  • Presentation of the international and European legal framework;
  • Analysis of the various cyber offences under Belgian criminal law (including target cybercrime; cyber-enabled crime or tool cybercrime; and content-related cybercrime);
  • Challenges relating to criminal procedure (difficult detection and need for special investigative measures; cooperation between service providers and law enforcement authorities);
  • Problems of localisation and conflicts of jurisdiction - theory and case examples;
  • International cooperation in criminal matters - theory and case examples;
  • Enforcement of sentences and evaluation of their effectiveness.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
In the course students will learn the basic concepts of cybercrime and will analyse a number of aspects of criminal law and criminal procedure that are particularly relevant and/or problematic in the context of cybercrime.
As the phenomenon of cybercrime is by nature transnational, this course will not only focus on the Belgian legal framework, but will also present relevant parts of European criminal law, and to the extent possible, it will also include some aspects of comparative law.
Theoretical issues will be illustrated by means of case law or real-world examples, in order to enable students to get a better grasp on the underlying problems.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Recommended to have taken :
Introduction to criminal law and criminology (DROI1106-3) or an equivalent course in an other country.
Links to other courses:
General Criminal Law (DROI1295-1); Special criminal law (DROI2207-1); Criminal business law (DROI0091-1); Criminal procedure (DROI2355-1); Special questions on criminal procedure (DROI1304-1); Comparative criminal procedure (DROI1305-1); International and European criminal law (DROI8021-1); EU criminal law (DROI1278-1).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
As the course aims to teach the basic concepts of cybercrime and to further analyse in that respect a number of relevant aspects of criminal law and criminal procedure, much of it will consist in theoretical lectures.
However, these lectures will be associated as much as possible with a more interactive (or Socratic) method, in order to encourage students to think critically and to communicate in front of a bigger group of peers using the appropriate legal terms. In order to stimulate the interaction and active interventions, a number of role playing games may be organised.
Furthermore, one or two sessions of the course may be taught be a guest professor. This way, students will be become familiar with different national approaches to certain aspects of cybercrime.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The lectures will be backed by detailed PowerPoint presentations, which will be made available to students on MyULg, after each lecture.
Students will also be invited to attend a conference and/or a seminar at the ULg.
Recommended or required readings :
Required/essential material:
Students will receive a list of relevant legislation, scholarly literature and case law at the beginning of the semester.
Additional material:
PowerPoint presentations and personal class notes. The PowerPoint presentations will be uploaded to MyULg (under "supports de cours") during the semester.
Recommended reading:
Students will also receive suggestions for further reading.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Students will be evaluated on the basis of a written, open-book exam.
If the number of students enrolled in the course is not too high, role playing games may be organised, in which case students will also be assessed on the basis of their presentation. In that hypothesis, the final exam would count for 3/4 of the final grade.
Students can choose to take the exam either in January or in June. The retake exam (also written) takes place in August/September. The final grade will be based entirely on this retake exam.
Work placement(s) :
This course does not include an internship.
Organizational remarks :
This course is only offered during odd years (2016-2017, 2018-2019, etc.).
Contacts :
Teacher/professor : Vanessa Franssen - vanessa.franssen@ulg.ac.be
Postdoctoral assistant: Stanislaw Tosza - stanislaw.tosza@ulg.ac.be
Secretariat : Julie Debroux - J.Debroux@ulg.ac.be - 04/366.31.59