ICRI, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and ICT, the knowledge centre of the University of Louvain, focuses on the legal aspects of information and communications technology. ICRI gained international recognition through research on automated analyses of legal texts (legal information retrieval).

IT laws in Europe

ICRI carried out various legal studies in the area of IT laws at a European level, amongst others for the IDA (Interchange of Data between Public Administrations) programme. This group was furthermore responsible for the legal study, which prepared the European guideline on electronic signatures. And, more recently, it also prepared the study for a revision of that guideline.

ICRI has successfully completed a number of other European study projects about: Certification services, digital archiving, the protection of personal information and standardisation, online elections, mobile telecommunications fraud, geographic information systems, etc.

IT laws in Belgium

In Belgium and Flanders, ICRI played an important role in the development of new regulations, amongst others with regard to the electronic trading, digital signatures, a protection of personal information, copyright protection of databases, computer criminality and the protection of secrecy in telecommunications.

ICRI participated in the BELPIC project, which is the computer system for making applications for and the activation of electronic identity cards. It regularly provides legal support for FEDICT (the Federal Government Service for ICT) and the Centralised Database for Social Security. The Federal Government Agency for the Economy has given ICRI the assignment of drafting a policy report on electronic archiving.

For many years, ICRI has acted as the legal knowledge centre for the Medialab programme of the Flemish government.

Communications law

With regard to legislation on communications, ICRI has successfully completed a number of projects. It drafted the European guideline for the liberalisation and harmonisation of the electronic communications sector. Federal and Flemish legislation must enact these guidelines. ICRI helps in the development of the corresponding legislation.

For many years, ICRI has acted as a legal adviser of the Flemish and Federal Government in matters concerning telecommunications policy. ICRI is also involved with BELTUG, the organisation of telecommunication users.

Automated text analysis and legal computing

Last but not least, ICRI has built up an international reputation in the area of automated text analysis and legal information.

The group has been repeatedly involved in federal automation projects, amongst others for the Ministry of Justice. For the appeal courts, for instance , the knowledge centre developed a statistical information system. In 2000 it developed a prototype for the administration of legislation information.

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Website: http://www.icri.be