Call For Papers -International Panel ‘Policing the Digital Frontier: Technology, Online Criminality, and Emerging Threats’

Call For Papers -International Panel
‘Policing the Digital Frontier: Technology, Online Criminality, and Emerging Threats’
University of Pécs Faculty of Law
25 June 2026

The Faculty of Law of the University of Pécs, in cooperation with the Hungarian Association of Law Enforcement and Police Science Border Policing Section (Specialist Group of Pécs), the Hungarian Association of Military Science Border Guard Section (Specialist Group of Pécs), and the Police Scientific Council, is pleased to host an international conference entitled Police Science in Practice on 25 June 2026 in Pécs, Hungary.

Papers are hereby invited to the English-language international panel of the conference with the overall theme of “Policing the Digital Frontier: Technology, Online Criminality, and Emerging Threats”.

Digital technologies are reshaping the landscape of criminal activity, from cyber-enabled fraud and online exploitation to AI-driven and cross-border hybrid threats. This panel examines how emerging technologies are transforming both the scale and sophistication of online criminality, and the implications for law enforcement strategy, regulation, and public safety. We invite interdisciplinary contributions that bridge research and practice, addressing detection, prevention, governance, and the future of policing in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

Papers may address (but are not limited to) the following themes:

    The evolving nature and typologies of cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crime
    Artificial intelligence in criminal activity and in law enforcement (e.g., automation, predictive tools, generative systems)
    Online fraud, financial crime, and cryptocurrency-related offending
    Trafficking in human beings in the online environment
    Darknet markets, encrypted communications, and investigative challenges
    Cross-border investigations and international cooperation in digital contexts
    Technology-facilitated exploitation, harassment, and organized crime
    Human rights and privacy implications of digital policing
    Public–private partnerships in addressing online criminality
    Digital evidence, forensic innovation, and admissibility challenges
    Disinformation, influence operations, and hybrid or state-linked threats
    Capacity-building, institutional reform, and the future of policing in a digital society
    Crime prevention in the digital age

The organisers gladly welcome other paper proposals that engage with technology, online criminality, and emerging threats in ways that advance scholarly dialogue. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives that bridge empirical research, legal analysis, policy development, and operational practice.

Publication
Revised full-length papers of selected accepted presentations will be published in the peer-reviewed online journal Police Studies (ISSN 2786-3573).
Further details regarding submission requirements and editorial guidelines will be provided to accepted speakers.

Submission guidelines
Applicants are invited to submit:
    Title of the proposed presentation
    Abstract (300–500 words)
    Author affiliation and contact details
Co-authored papers are welcome. Presentations are expected to be 15 minutes in length. A limited number of presentation slots are available.

Applications should be sent by 17 April 2026 to: konferenciapecs@gmail.com 
The subject of the email shall include: ‘International Panel’ 
Notification of acceptance will be sent by 27 April 2026 at the latest.

Practical information
Venue: University of Pécs Faculty of Law; H-7622 Pécs, 48-as tér 1, Hungary
Language of the panel: English
Registration fee: None is charged.
Hospitality: Coffee breaks and lunch are provided free of charge.
Travel and accommodation: Participants are kindly requested to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Contact
For additional inquiries regarding the international panel, please contact:
Ms Katalin Bodor 
International Relations Coordinator
University of Pécs Faculty of Law
bodor.katalin@ajk.pte.hu 

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