Dr. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger studied criminology and works as such at the Institute for Police Science at the Brandenburg Police University.

As one of the first representatives of the field of cybercriminology in the German-speaking world, his research interests focus in particular on digital crimes and interaction risks of social media, digital policing, as well as the understanding of the emergence of norm violation, norm development and control in the digital space. He received his doctorate (Dr. iur.) with a thesis on cybergrooming at the University of Potsdam in 2020.

Further focal points here are the effects of the protection of children and young people from harmful media on the development of digital crimes and the significance of media education for the area of digital crime prevention.

He is author and editor of several publications on cybercriminology and digital policing.

For his research on committing criminal acts in virtual worlds and online games, he was awarded the first European Future Prize for Police Work by the European Police Congress.

Follow Dr. Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger on Twitter, LinkedIN, Instagram und Xing. Or visit his website

What drives you, Thomas?

The interest in exploring the emergence of crime and standards in a global digital space and hopefully contributing to making the use of the Internet safer for everyone, especially for children.

Further information and references:

Latest book publication “Digital police work”, Springer 2017 ”

[…] Criminologist Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger […] is a nationally renowned specialist for cybercrime, police work in digital space and interaction risks in social media […] “Simone Schmollack in “Und er wird es wieder tun”, S. 86 ff, 05/2017

“[…] Germany’s most famous cybercriminologist […]”, KiKa from 07.02.2017

“[…] the first cyber policeman in Germany, Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger […]”, who on Friday 17.01.2017

“[…] The most interesting guest at “Maischberger” is criminologist Rüdiger”, Focus from 29.09.2016

“[…] Germany’s most famous cyber policeman, the Brandenburg criminologist Thomas-Gabriel Rüdiger, is missing competent education at schools […]”, FAZ print edition of 07.06.2016

“[…] one of the nationwide leading experts on the subject of cyber-grooming […]”, MOZ of 11.04.2016

“[…] Thomas-Gabriel Ruediger is one of the few who dare to speak plainly in the absence of media protection. ” Christian Füller in “The revolution abuses its children”, S.205ff, 03/2015

“[…] Probably the best informed cybercop in Germany[…]” Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAZ / FAS), print edition of 03.03.2014