Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
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 (including the challenges created by artificial intelligence), taking a both legal and criminological approach.
In particular, the course will focus on the following topics:
- Presentation of the phenomenon of cybercrime, the criteria for criminalisation and a typology of the perpetrators;
- Enforcement of sentences and evaluation of their effectiveness;
- Presentation of the international and European legal framework and of the main institutional actors;
- Localisation of cybercrime and conflicts of jurisdiction - theory and case examples;
- Analysis of the various cyber offences under Belgian criminal law (including target cybercrime; cyber-enabled crime or tool cybercrime; and content-related cybercrime) in light of the European obligations;
- Challenges relating to criminal procedure (difficult detection and need for special investigative measures; cooperation between service providers and law enforcement authorities; data retention);
- International cooperation in criminal matters (and the role of online service providers - theory and case examples.
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 penal law (DROI1106-2), General criminal law (DROI1295-1) or Principles of criminal law (DROI1268-1), and Criminal procedure (DROI2355-1) or Principles of criminal procedure (DROI1299-1), or equivalent courses on criminal law and criminal procedure in an other country.
Links to other courses:
Special criminal law (DROI2207-1); Business criminal law (DROI0091-1); Criminal procedure, advanced questions (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, part of it will consist in theoretical lectures.
These lectures will however be combined with a more interactive (or Socratic) method, in order to encourage students to think critically and to communicate in front of a group of peers using the appropriate legal terms. To this end, students will get reading assignments (one or two texts) ahead of class, which will be discussed during class, and will complete a group task entailing an oral presentation.
Furthermore, one or two sessions of the course may be taught be a guest lecturer (Belgian or foreign). This way, students will be become familiar with different national approaches to certain aspects of cybercrime and/or acquire a better understanding of the stakes and the challenges encountered by the various stakeholders in this field.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
This course is only taught during even years (2026-2027, 2028-2029, etc.).
Classes in person, compulsory attendance.
The lectures will be backed by detailed PowerPoint presentations, which will be made available to students on eCampus, after each lecture.
Students will get reading assignments (one or two texts) ahead of each class. Their active participation during in the discussions in class will be part of the continuous assessment.
The group task, dedicated to the analysis of a concrete case, will be compensated by two classes. One or two classes (depending on the number of students) will be dedicated to the oral presentations.
This course may include one or two guest lectures given by a visiting professor or a specialised practitioner.
Students may also be invited to attend a conference and/or a seminar at the ULiège. Further details will be given at the beginning of the semester.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
- Microsoft Teams
Further information:
Required/essential material:
Students will receive reading materials consisting of relevant legislation, scholarly literature and case law. The reader will be sold at the shop of the Presses universitaires de Liège. Additional materials may be uploaded onto eCampus during the semester.
Additional material:
PowerPoint presentations and personal class notes. The PowerPoint presentations will be uploaded to eCampus after each class.
Recommended reading:
Students will also receive suggestions for further reading (not compulsory).
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
Continuous assessment
Other : group task - oral presentation - written memo
Further information:
This course is only taught during even years (2026-2027, 2028-2029, etc.).
Students will be evaluated in three steps.
First, they will be evaluated on the basis of their reading assignments and active participation during the discussions in class (1/4 of the final grade).
Second, they will analyse a concrete case in small groupes and present it orally, based on a written memo to be submitted in advance. This group task will count for 1/4 of the final grade.
Third, they will have to take a written open-book exam in June (2/4 of the final grade).
The retake exam (written and open-book) takes place in August/September. The final grade will be based entirely on this retake exam. Depending on the number of students who have to retake the exam, an oral exam may replace the written exam.
Students of the Master in Criminology will have the option to pass the exam in French (i.e. the questions will still be formulated in English, but the answers can be given in French) and are allowed to remplace the group task by one or two (substantial) additional questions at the written exam. In case of an oral exam during the retake session, they will also have the possibility to answer to the questions in French.
Work placement(s)
This course does not include an internship.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Students are required to attend classes and to participate actively. Without participating regularly, it will be very difficult to pass this course.
Contacts
Teachers/professor : Vanessa Franssen - vanessa.franssen@uliege.be
Assistant: Marine Corhay - marine.corhay@uliege.be - 04/366.31.67
Secretariat : Sophie Brichet - s.brichet@uliege.be - 04/366.31.96
Association of one or more MOOCs
The MOOC entitled 'Introduction au Droit (D3)' is associated with this course.
Further information:
The module on criminal law contains an introductory video on cybercrime.
See: https://www.fun-mooc.fr/fr/cours/etudier-le-droit-une-introduction/