Limited Prosecution in a Borderless Data Space?

“Limited Prosecution in a Borderless Data Space?” is the title of the conference marking the second edition of the Bayreuth IT Criminal Law Day. Following the great success of last year’s inaugural event on AI in criminal prosecution, this year’s conference will focus on the pressing issues surrounding cross-border evidence gathering and its practical implications for law enforcement — including gaps in current legislation. The discussion will benefit from the expertise of practitioners, scholars, and legal professionals brought together by the University of Bayreuth: speakers include the former Secretary General of Interpol, a representative of the Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT), and a representative of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The conference will focus on topics such as cross-border evidence gathering from encrypted communication services (e.g., EncroChat, ANOM, SkyECC) and the admissibility of such evidence in criminal proceedings. Special attention will be given to legal challenges in handling digital evidence, particularly the transmission of data between police authorities across national borders. Another key topic will be the EU’s e-Evidence Regulation, which was enacted in 2023 with the aim of simplifying cross-border evidence collection. The conference will also address the associated legal and data protection issues. A final focus will be on the recently adopted “Cybercrime Convention 2.0,” which seeks to enhance international cooperation in combating cybercrime but has faced strong criticism from human rights and journalism organizations due to its potential impact on fundamental rights. The event offers a platform to discuss and develop potential solutions to the challenges of international criminal prosecution in the digital realm.

Participation is limited. Registration at: https://www.strafrecht2.uni-bayreuth.de/de/Bayreuther-IT-Strafrechtstag/index.php; Organizers are available for media inquiries in advance. Journalists are invited to attend the conference.