What are simulation studies?
They are an innovative method of legal research in which court proceedings are simulated under realistic conditions. Real judges, public prosecutors and lawyers participate in these simulated court hearings. They hear fictitious but realistic cases and reach a simulated verdict.

Why does ATHENE carry out simulation studies?
In the dynamic fields of cybersecurity and data protection law, new legal issues constantly arise for which there is no established case law. This can lead to a high degree of legal uncertainty, posing a considerable challenge for researchers, companies and authorities alike.

The simulation studies address this challenge by:

• Enabling the further development of the law. - identifying and addressing legal grey areas before they develop into real-world legal disputes.
• Reducing legal uncertainty: Simulated judicial interpretation of unclear legal provisions creates guidance for practitioners.
• Promoting academic discourse: Si­mu­la­tion results provide a foundation for further legal debate.

The approach
In the simulation studies, Dr Annika and her team address current legal issues, such as:

• the legal limits of cybersecurity research
• data protection challenges posed by new technologies.
• liability issues in the digital space

The results of these studies are published in scientific journals and made available to specialist audiences. These publications provide valuable guidance for anyone dealing with the legal challenges of digitalisation.