The "Crime, Security and Surveillance in the Digital Age (CSS)" unit brings together researchers from CRIDS and the V&S Centre, some of whom are practitioners and most of whom are teachers, around three lines of research: crime, security and surveillance in the digital age.

From the crime angle, research is specifically concerned with, but not limited to, cyberstalking, computer fraud, the protection of vulnerable people on the Internet, the repression of hate speech and terrorist offenses on the Internet, and the legal framework of databases for criminal purposes.

From the security angle, research is conducted largely with regard to the three main texts in this area: the RGPD, the "NIS" Directive and the Cybersecurity Act. Members of the Cellule are also working on the H2020 SPARTA project.

From the angle of surveillance, research is permeated by the concern to strike a balance between four fundamental values - secrecy, transparency, security and freedom - at a time when mass surveillance is gaining ground and states are not the only ones to pose a threat to citizens' privacy. Against this backdrop, the prospects offered by whistleblowing in terms of vigilance are analyzed. Cell members are also looking at the proliferation of reporting and collaboration obligations with a view to better combating certain forms of crime and increasing the sense of security (to the detriment of citizens' sense of freedom).

At the intersection of these three axes lies a common research theme: the data leaks. The theme is analyzed from various angles (notification obligation, security requirements, hacking, ethical hacking, breach of professional secrecy, extension of freedom of expression, whistleblowing, etc.). What obligations does a company or public authority have in the event of a data leak? What measures does the law prescribe to prevent data leaks? What fundamental rights are potentially violated in the event of a data leak? How does criminal law react to data leaks? What is the legal status of ethical hackers? How do they differ from whistleblowers? What about hackers? Does a data leak necessarily engage the responsibility of its perpetrator? What are the dangers of data leaks? And what are their virtues in a democratic society?