Five students of the University of Vienna are participating in an international course on cybercrime in Zurich, Switzerland. Led by University of Vienna Law professor Susanne Reindl-Kraus and Honorary Professor Andreas Schloenhardt, the course is part of the flagship Transnational Organised Crime program offered by the University of Vienna in conjunction with the Universities of Zurich, Queensland, Cologne, and Ferrara. The course enables students to research the many facets of organised crime and study the laws and practical measures to fight it. With the involvement of international partners and presentations by experts and officials, students gain unique insight into global investigation techniques as well as international criminal law frameworks.

University of Vienna student Gamze Altindas says “my project on special online investigation techniques has been eye-opening. This is a great experience to present my research to an international audience and get feedback from leading experts from top universities.” University of Queensland law student Helena Hagan adds: “this is a great way to learn with students from other countries and my research project on ransomware attacks allows me to combine my law degree with my interest in IT”.

The joint Transnational Organised Crime program is offered annually since 2018. Previous courses have focussed on wildlife trafficking, organised crime and illegal gambling, decriminalisation of drugs, the illicit firearms trade, and the challenges posed by organised crime to courts and prisons. In 2023–24, the focus is on transnational organised cybercrime.

Andreas Schloenhardt explains that “this includes specific crime types, the means and methods of online and computer-based offending, the involvement of organised criminal groups, international frameworks and national laws, as well law enforcement methods, prosecution, and prevention of cybercrime.”

Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, adds: “This course offers a great opportunity for our students to do research in an international context and, through special training, equips them with advanced research and presentation skills. Students in this course gain a good understanding of the criminology, policies, and laws relating to cybercrime, liaise with key stakeholders, and present their research findings to an academic audience.”  

In 2024–2025, the joint Transnational Organised Crime course will focus on trafficking in cultural artefacts and antiquities and will be hosted by the University of Ferrara in Italy.

Report from the University of Queensland

From the 24th until the 29th of September 2017 seven law students from the University of Vienna together with students from University of Queensland’s TC Beirne School of Law took part in the seminar  „Transnational Organised Crime, Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in International Law and Domestic Practice“ at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. The seminar was organised in corporation between the University of Vienna and the University of Queensland under the supervision of Prof. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf and Prof. Andreas Schloenhardt.

During the seminar the students tackled criminological aspects as well as legal instruments concerning topics such as trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, border security, immigration, prostitution and forced marriage on the national and international level. Guest lecturers HE Ambassador Dr. Bernhard Zimburg and Prof. Liz Campbell from the University of Durham provided the students with further insight concerning the issues of trafficking in arms and trafficking in people.

The corporation between the Austrian and the Australian students was, again, a worthwhile experience for both sides. On the first day of the seminar Prof. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf’s and Prof. Andreas Schloenhardt’s strive towards a deeper corporation between the University of Vienna and the University of Queensland in the field of criminal law was honored with an official reception. Apart from students of the two universities HE Ambassador Dr. Bernhard Zimburg and TC Beirne School of Law’s Dean Prof. Sarah Derrington attended the celebration.

The seminar is going to be continued in Vienna in 2018 with Australian students coming to Austria.

From the 18th until the 21st of September 2017 the University of Queensland's TC Beirne School of Law held the "Organised Crime and Corruption Forum" together with the Australian Institute of Business and Economics in Brisbane, Australia. The Forum lasted for four days and tackled topics such as "Criminalising Migrant Smuggling; Promoting Safe Migration", "The Smart Home as a Safer Space", "Anti-Corruption in the Company" and "Sports Corruption: Transnational Perspectives".

On the first day Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf (ALES-Manager, Professor at the University of Vienna and Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland), participated in a panel discussion that dealt with the issue of Migrant Smuggling. Andreas Schloenhardt (Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Queensland and Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Vienna) hosted the panel. Thomas Albrecht (UNHCR Regional Representative in Canberra), Madeline Gleeson (Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, University of New South Wales in Sydney), Federica La Chioma (Prosecutor in Palermo, Italy) and Emil Stojanovski (Director of the Transnational Crime Section in the Australian Ministry for Foreign Affairs) also participated in the discussion. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf explored the questions of why criminal provisions exist in this field, which legal interests are protected by the existing criminal provisions, and if situations can arise in which criminalization seems to be out of place. The participants discussed the international legal framework, protection of refugees, humanitarian standards, and policy plans in relation to criminal sanctions, border control and other shielding mechanisms.

For the central theses set forth by Thomas Albrecht and Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf in the related interview with George Roberts for ABC Radio see:

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/families-should-not-face-people-smuggling-charges,-forum-told/8958112

The second day of the conference focused on the "Smart Home" in relation to domestic violence and the use of new technology. Farsam Salimi (ALES-Project Manager and Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna), Rebecca Shearman (Domestic Violence Action Centre) and Mark Burdon (Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland) shed light on the profiles of perpetrators, modi operandi in relation to social media, typical instances of victimization, the growing responsibility of developers of new technologies as well as possible changes in the concepts of privacy in the "Smart Home". ABC Radio journalist Antony Funnel hosted the discussion. Farsam Salimi presented the new criminal provision of "Cyberbullying" (§ 107c Austrian Criminal Code StGB) as a possible inspiration for a new Australian criminal provision. This was of great interest to the audience.

For radio coverage of the session as well remarks by Farsam Salimi see:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/the-smart-home-as-a-safer-space/8895846

In the ensuing "Design Thinking Session" the participants of the conference were split up into eight teams consisting of students, practitioners and academics of various backgrounds. In a guided but open discussion the teams tried to come up with novel solutions that go beyond current Australian law and are feasible within a 5-year timeframe. After the solutions were presented a jury consisting of Hannah Driscoll (Suncorp), Rebecca Shearman and James Semit (The Legal Forecast/King & Wood Mallesons) decided on the best idea pitch as well as the best idea. The best pitch was awarded to the team that consisted of, amongst others, Jakob Tschachler (ALES-Research Associate). A team consisting of two law students, an alumni of technical studies, a social worker as well as ALES-Manager Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf was awarded for coming up with the best idea. The idea set forth was that a code of ethics should be created in cooperation with the IT-industry, as well as legislators, that would not only guarantee the safety of appliances but also safe handling of private data. It would also provide guidance on the swift reaction of providers in instances of domestic violence.

The third joint course on transnational organised crime of the University of Vienna and the University of Queensland opened on 26 September 2016 with a reception at the Australian Embassy in Vienna. The course brings together 15 law students from both universities who undertake research on international law, national policies, and the criminology of organised crime. The focus of this year´s course is on smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons with students exploring topics from trafficking for the purpose of organ removal, questions of domestic jurisdiction and to the secrecy surrounding border control operations.

U:Vie´s professor of criminal law and co-coordinator of this course, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, who was recently made an Honorary Professor at UQ, says that “the course enables students to conduct independent research, liaise with international organisations and national authorities, and offers a pathway to learn about employment in this area or to undertake postgraduate research in this field.” Prof. Dr. Andreas Schloenhardt, who co-convenes the course, adds that “the course offers students a unique opportunity to learn from different national approaches and compare problems and solutions in common law and civil law jurisdictions.”

The course was formally opened by Ms Gaia Puleston, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Vienna, Professor Heinz Faßmann, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Vienna, and Dean of Law Professor Paul Oberhammer. In his opening remarks, Professor Faßmann stressed the importance of international research and student exchange. Professor Oberhammer also noted the very close cooperation between the two law schools; “the cooperation extends from undergraduate exchange to joint faculty research projects and also encompasses UQ students participating in the University of Vienna Summer School and to PhD students spending extended research visits at the partner university.”

The course is held at the department of criminal law and criminology and will last until 30 September 2016. On 28 September 2016, Colonel Gerald Tatzgern B.A.M.A (Head of the Joint Operational Office against human smuggling and trafficking in humas, Federal Ministry of the Interior) and Mr Ambassador Dr. Helmut Böck (Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs) will deliver guest lectures. The course will be completed with a visit to the United Nations Office.

The UQ report you will find here.

Unfortunately, the detailed reports on the events are currently available only in German.