Objectives

The leverage of increasingly powerful technologies allows criminals to obtain illegal profit, to impair the normal functioning of computer systems, or to disseminate illegal content. The increasing sophistication, prevalence, and potential negative impact of cybercrime represent a very significant threat to the personal safety, the rule of law, and the economic well-being. Consequently, the research in the area of cybercrimes must receive appropriate importance from stakeholders.

The Research Unit aims to contribute to the development of a deep understanding of cybercrimes’ nature, attributes, and the potential impact or consequences on stakeholders; the harmonization of national laws; the promotion of legislative initiatives that will effectively address cybercrime; the international cooperation in the field of cybercrime research, training, and investigation; the better understanding of essential cybercrime litigation aspects; and the improvement of computer system resilience, investigation software/techniques, and incident response.

This is a research and training unit without legal personality, which operates within the Faculty of Law, Babeş-Bolyai University, with the support of the U.S. Secret Service (Bucharest Office), Western Union, eBay, and other legal public entities and private industry that would provide support in terms of expertise, advice, and participation in the activities.

The activities includes research; round tables, seminars, and Conferences. The research carried out within the Center covers aspects regarding the understanding, prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cyber misconduct, in particular cybercrime, including the following topics: classification of cybercrimes; types of cybercriminals and their victims; comparative aspects of cybercrime legislation; cyber extortion and threats; copyright enforcement; cyberstalking; computer damage attacks; cyberterrorism; online child exploitation; cyber frauds; trade secrets theft; identity theft; protection of personal data protection; data breach handling.

Main Publications

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Cyber Extortion and Threats: Analysis of the United States Case Law, 14 Masaryk U. J.L. & Tech. 3 (2020).

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Criminal Copyright Infringement: Forms, Extent, and Prosecution in the United States, 4 U. Bologna L. Rev. 229 (2019).

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Cybersecurity as an Essential Sustainable Economic Development Factor, 7 Eur. J. Sustain. Dev. 171 (2018).

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Backdoor Man: A Radiograph of Computer Source Code Theft Case, 18 J. High Tech. L. 1 (2017).

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Light My Fire: A Roentgenogram of Cyberstalking Cases, 40 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 41 (2016).

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Riders on the Storm: An Analysis of Credit Card Fraud Cases, 20 Suffolk J. Trial & App. Advoc. 185 (2015) .

Ioana Vasiu & Lucian Vasiu, Break on Through: An Analysis of Computer Damage Cases, 14 Pitt. J. Tech. L. & Pol'y 158 (2014).

Past Events:

14 May 2020: Online Conference “Data Privacy & Security”. Speakers: Mr. Dan CIMPEAN, Director General, Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-RO); Ms. Grațiela MĂGDĂLINOIU, President, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) - Romania Chapter; Mr. Tiberiu ANGHEL, Director of Security Operations, CyBourn and ISACA Treasurer; Dr. Gabriela ZANFIR-FORTUNA, Senior Counsel, Future of Privacy Forum, United States; Ms. Larisa GĂBUDEANU, Attorney at Law; Prof. Dr. Horia F. POP, Department of Computer Science and member of the Babeş-Bolyai University Senate; Prof. Dr. Ioana VASIU, Faculty of Law, Babeş-Bolyai University.

20 March 2019: Keynote Address by Prof. Dr. Ioana VASIU "E-Evidence, Privacy, Trust", Romanian Police: Vision, Concepts, and Values Integrated in the European Judicial System Conference.

26 October 2018: International Conference "Protecting Personal Safety, Privacy, and Intellectual Property Rights in Cyberspace"

16 June 2017: International Conference "Advanced Cyberlaw and Electronic Security" (ACES Conference)

9 May 2017: Visit of Prof. Dr. Scott SHACKELFORD, J.D. Stanford, Indiana University; Research Fellow la Belfer Center, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Senior Fellow, Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, Indiana University; and Affiliate Scholar, Stanford Center for Internet and Society. Prof. SHACKELFORD gave a presentation titled "Making Democracy Harder to Hack".

17 November 2016: Cybersecurity Seminar, Presentations by Mr. Vasile DORCA, CGEIT Head of Risk and Assurance, Information Security, PaddyPower Betfair; Mr. Vlad SANTO, Sales Manager, Blade Solutions; and Prof. Dr. Ioana VASIU.

20-21 May 2016: International Conference "Preventing and Combating Cybercrime"

26 February 2016: Meeting with His Excellency Mr. Hans KLEMM, the U.S. Ambassador in Romania, and Representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Romania.

October 2015: Seminar on "IP Rights Protection in the Digital Era". Participants: Mr David GAPPA, Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinator, U.S. Embassy in Bucharest; Ms. Marisa MAC ISAAC, Rule of Law Officer, U.S. Embassy in Bucharest; Ms. Monica CUSTURA, IPLEC, U.S. Embassy in Bucharest; and Prof. Dr. Ioana VASIU.

May 2015: International Conference "The Rule of Law in the Digital Era"

January 2015: Cybercrime Roundtable, Participants: Representatives of the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Western Union.