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Tine Munk

Tine Munk

Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Staff Group(s)
Criminology and Criminal Justice

Role

Dr Tine Højsgaard Munk is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), where she leads and co-leads modules in Media and Crime and Cybercrime at the undergraduate level. She also provides guest lectures across various courses, sharing her expertise on cybercrime and cybersecurity topics. Her teaching extends to the NTU Global Summer School, where she has designed and led sessions on cybercrime, engaging students in cutting-edge topics.

Dr Munk's research interests centre on cybercrime, digital warfare, and memetic warfare. Her current project, The Complex Web in Memetic Warfare (2024–2025), examines the role of memes in digital conflicts, with a particular focus on the Ukrainian resistance against disinformation. She actively participates in knowledge exchange initiatives, delivering external lectures and webinars and organising public events to discuss vital topics like cybersecurity, far-right extremism, and the nuances of cybercrime and online warfare.

In addition to her teaching and research, Dr Munk supervises undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD dissertations, fostering academic growth across all levels. She co-leads departmental writing clinics, providing a collaborative environment for colleagues to refine their research and writing skills. Dr Munk is also heavily involved in grant writing, having led two projects as the Principal Investigator. Her research collaborations extend to Aarhus University, Denmark, and colleagues within NTU’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. In 2023, she co-organised the Continuum of Online/Offline Harm Conference with Dr Morag Kennedy, which brought together academics and practitioners to explore the intersections between digital and physical harm.

Dr Munk has authored and co-authored four impactful books in criminology and digital warfare:

  1. The Rise of Politically Motivated Cyber Attacks (2022) – This book provides an in-depth analysis of cyber-attacks with political motives, exploring the methods, motivations, and their impact on global security.
  2. Memetic War: Online Resistance in Ukraine (2023)—This work delves into memes as resistance tools, examining their role in combating disinformation within the Ukrainian context.
  3. Far-right Extremism Online: Beyond the Fringe (2024) – This book explores the digital tactics of far-right groups, assessing their online presence and implications for society.
  4. Victimisation in the Digital Age: An Online/Offline Continuum Approach (2025) – Co-edited with Dr Morag Kennedy, this collection discusses the convergence of online and offline victimisation, highlighting the blurred boundaries between these realms.

Dr Munk actively promotes her research at numerous conferences, where she shares her insights on digital warfare, cybercrime, and extremism. Notable presentations include:

  • "Memetic Warfare: Humour, Hate, and Hashtags in Political Discourse" and "Echoes in the Digital Arena: Contesting Concepts of Online Activism and Free Speech" at EUROCRIM 2024.
  • "React, Resist, Reclaim: The Memetic Frontline of Ukraine" at Security BSides Barcelona 2024, showcasing the role of memes in Ukrainian digital resistance.
  • "From Pixels to Politics: The Strategic Role of Memetic Warfare in Modern Conflicts" at EUROCRIM 2023, highlighting the tactical use of memes in geopolitical contexts.
  • "Nobody is Going to Break Us: Ukrainian Cyberactivism" at EUROCRIM 2022, reflecting on the resilience of Ukrainian digital activism.

Through these presentations and her publications, Dr Munk advances discussions on cyber threats and digital activism, enhancing global understanding of cyber warfare and digital resilience. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding knowledge and fostering collaboration within NTU and beyond.

Career overview

Dr Munk holds a BA in Law from Aarhus University and completed an LLM in European Law and Policy, followed by a PhD in Cyber-security in the European Region at the University of Manchester (UoM) (2015). She has a PG(Cert) in higher education from MDX. She also holds a Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy (HEA), underscoring her commitment to advancing higher education standards.

She began her academic career at UoM, engaging in teaching, research, and module leadership. She then moved to Middlesex University (MDX), where she led the MSc Cybercrime and Digital Investigation program, developing key modules in cybercrime and cybersecurity. Since 2021, Dr Munk has been a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). She teaches Media and Crime and Cybercrime while continuing her research into cybercrime, activism and resistance, digital warfare, and memetic warfare.

Currently, Dr Munk is a Nottingham Civic Exchange Fellow (2024-2025) at NTU, The School of Social Science.

Research areas

Dr Munk’s research specialises in cybercrime, digital warfare, memetic warfare, and far-right extremism online—activism and resistance. Her work delves into how digital tools are used in conflicts and criminal activities and their broader societal impacts. A key focus of her research is understanding how key actors and cyber technologies shape global security dynamics and influence individual and societal resilience.

Dr Munk’s current research project, The Complex Web in Memetic Warfare (2024–2025), examines the role of memes within digital conflicts, focusing on how they are used as tools for civic resilience and political activism, particularly in modern warfare. This project aligns with her broader research interests in cybercrime, digital warfare, memetic warfare, and far-right extremism online.

This project builds upon the issues outlined in her 2024 Memetic War book. This book explores how memes are utilised in digital resistance, particularly within the context of the Ukrainian conflict, as tools for civic resilience and political activism. Her ongoing research continues to delve into the role of memes within digital warfare, examining their adaptation and influence on global narratives.

In addition, Dr Munk’s research includes the Political Online Hate Speech Project, which studies the impacts of politically driven hate speech on digital platforms. Her research trajectory strongly focuses on the intersections of cybercrime, digital warfare, and memetic warfare, underscoring these emerging digital phenomena' societal and security challenges. Additionally, her co-edited book Victimisation in the Digital Age with Dr Morag Kennedy stems from the successful 2023 conference that addressed the convergence of online and offline victimisation.

Dr Munk frequently collaborates with international partners, including Aarhus University, Denmark, and places a strong emphasis on public engagement and knowledge exchange. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving challenges in cybercrime and digital resilience.

External activity

Guest Lectures and Webinars: Dr Munk has delivered several guest lectures and participated in webinars on topics relevant to her research, such as cybercrime, cybersecurity, and memetic warfare. She has delivered guest lectures at various institutions, including the University of Manchester on counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, the University of West London on cybercrime, and the European University of Cyprus through Erasmus Staff Mobility.

Organisation of Conferences and Events: Among her notable presentations are her talks at the MetaCon 2023 conference in the Metaverse, where she hosted the conference and presented content related to The Rise of Politically Motivated Cyber Attacks. The CMMC MetaCon was an event for the US Defence industry, where she addressed cyber resilience in the face of politically motivated attacks.

External examiner: Dr Munk is an external examiner, bringing her expertise to various academic assessments. She is currently the external examiner for the BA (Hons) Public Services program at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), with her role extending until 2028. She has also been an external examiner for PhD candidates at institutions such as Salford University’s Business School, where she contributed to evaluating and quality assurance doctoral research. At The University of East London, she served as an external advisor and contributed to the validation of cybercrime programs.

Conference Presentations: Dr Munk has actively participated in national and international conferences, sharing her research on platforms such as EUROCRIM and Security BSides.

  • 2024: Presented EUROCRIM. Title: “Echoes in the Digital Arena: Contesting Concepts of Online Activism and Free Speech”. Bucharest 11-14.09.2024.
  • 2024: Presented at EUROCRIM. Title: “Memetic Warfare: Humour, Hate, and Hashtags in Political Discourse”. Bucharest 11-14.09.2024.
  • 2024. Presenting at the School of Social Science Summer Showcase in Cliffton. Co-presenting: Morag Kennedy and Tine Munk. Bridging Worlds: Reflecting on the Journey from a Consortium Conference to a Comprehensive Book on Victimisation in the Digital Age. 24.06.2024.
  • 2024. Presenting at the NTU CC&SJ Pint of Justice, the Cosy Club, Nottingham. Book launch. Presenting: Far-right Extremism Online. Beyond the Fringe. 19.06.2024.
  • 2024: Presenting at Security BSides Barcelona. Title: “React, Resist, Reclaim: The Memetic Frontline of Ukraine”. 29-30.05.2024.
  • 2023. Presented at CMMC MetaCon 2023, Title: The Rise of Politically Motivated Cyber Attacks. 14. November 2023. Online.
  • 2023: BOOK Launch: Memetic War. Online Resistance in Ukraine. Aarhus University, Denmark (Invited). Presentation. Title: Click, Share, Resist: The Power of Memes in the Ukrainian Online Resistance. 24.10.2023
  • 2023: Presented at the NTU CC&SJ Pint of Justice, the Cosy Club, Nottingham. Title: Ukraine’s Memetic War. Pixels, Politics and Power.
  • 2023: Presented at EUROCRIM, Florence. Title: From Pixels to Politics: The Strategic Role of Memetic Warfare in Modern Conflicts.
  • 2022: Presented at CCJ Research Seminar. Nottingham Trent University. The Criminology and Criminal Justice Department. Title: “Without You”. Visual Symbols and Memes in the Ukrainian Information War’.
  • 2022: Presented at EUROCRIM 2022 Conference. Malaga Spain: Title: ‘Nobody is going to break us’: Ukrainian Cyberactivism’.
  • 2022: Book launch at NTU. Critical Criminology and Social Justice Research Group. Title: The Rise of Politically Motivated Cyber Attacks.
  • 2021: Presented at EUROCRIM 2021. Online. Title: The Future of Democracy: Contemporary Political Hate Speech Online. Co-presenting Dr Angus Nurse and Dr Tine Munk
  • 2019: Opening/ Welcoming speech. The Common Session Conference, MDX, London.
  • 2019: Regulation and Enforcement in the Digital Age (REDA) Conference, Nicosia, Cyprus. The University of Cyprus and the European University of Cyprus. Title: Is Online Privacy Death: A Case Study of Voice Recognition Technologies in the GDPR Era.
  • 2019: Invited Panellist at The University of Manchester: London Network: Cybercrime and Cybersecurity event.
  • 2019: Guest speaker and discussion panellist. St Antony’s International Review (STAIR). St Antony’s College, Oxford University. Title: IoT: Data Trade, Surveillance and Privacy.
  • 2018: Presented at the Common Session Conference. Copenhagen. Plenary presentation. Title: Does Online Privacy Still Exist?
  • 2018: Presented at the Programme for MA Comparative Drug and Alcohol Studies Intensive Study Week (Middlesex University). Title: The Transformation of Illegal Drug Trading: Cryptocurrencies, TOR and the Dark Net.
  • 2018: Presented at the EUROCRIM Conference, Sarajevo: Title: Is Online Privacy Death?
  • 2017: Presented at the WISDOM 2nd Networking Event, The Women in Security Domain and/ or Maths (WISDOM) group. Royal Holloway. The University of London. Title: Criminological Cybercrime Challenges.
  • 2017: Presented at the Common Studies Session, University of Peloponnese. Corinth, Greece. Title: Cyberterrorism: Definitional Problems.
  • 2017: Presented at EUROCRIM. Cardiff. Title: The Internet-of-Things: A Hacking Wonderland.
    2017: Presented at the Rethinking Cybercrime conference, the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. Title: The Internet of Things: A Playground for Hackers.
  • 2017: Presented at Middlesex PhD conference. Title: The Internet-of-Things: A Hacking Wonderland.
  • 2017: Research seminar presentation, Middlesex University, the Centre for Social and Criminological Research. Title: ‘Large-Scale Cyber Attacks: An Increasing Threat’.
  • 2016: Presented at the Rethinking Cybercrime Conference, the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. Title: The Right to Privacy in an Internet Era: Myth or Reality?
  • 2013: Presented at the Making Diversity Interventions Count Conference, the University of Bradford. The poster presentation was Titled Disproportionality in the Professions. Presenters were Dr Debbie Ellen and Tine Munk.
  • 2012: Presented at the Sixth International Graduate Legal Research Conference (IGLRC). King’s College. London. Title: ‘Risk-Management of Cyber Space Crimes in a European Context. Security Agencies and Public-Private Partnerships’. Poster Presentation: Title: Risk-Management of Cyber Space Crimes in a European Context.
  • 2012: Presented at the EU in International Affairs Conference (EUIA). The Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Title: A European Public-Private Partnership.
  • 2012: Presented at the Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference. The University of Bristol. Title: Risk-Management of Cyber Space.
  • 2011: Presented at the Postgraduate Research Conference 2012. The University of Manchester. The School of Law. Title: From Securitization to Risk-Management.

Sponsors and collaborators

Edited Collection: Munk and Kennedy (2025): Victimisation in the Digital Age: An Online/Offline Continuum Approach. Abingdon: Routledge.


Book Chapter: Munk et al (2025) Navigating the Online/Offline Continuum: Exploring Victims, Spaces, and Dangers. (Ed.): Munk & Kennedy, Victimisation in the Digital Age: An Online/Offline Continuum Approach. Abingdon: Routledge.

Book chapter: Ahmad and Munk (2025) “Deception as an Online Weapon. Does the Truth Matter?” (Ed.): Munk & Kennedy, Victimisation in the Digital Age: An Online/Offline Continuum Approach. Abingdon: Routledge

Book chapter: Munk (2025) Concluding Remarks, the Merger of the Online and Offline Worlds. Munk & Kennedy, Victimisation in the Digital Age: An Online/Offline Continuum Approach. Abingdon: Routledge

Monograph Book. Munk (2024) Far-right Extremism Online: Beyond the Fringe. Abingdon: Routledge.

Monograph Book: Munk (2023) Memetic War. Online Resistance in Ukraine. Abingdon: Routledge.

Textbook Chapter: Munk and Austin (2023) ‘Stalking in Movies: Could You Be a Victim?’, (ed.) Mellins et al. (Eds): Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse. Chams: Springer.

Journal article: Munk and Ahmad (2022) “I do not need a ride; I need ammunition’: The Ukrainian Cyberwar’. Comunicação e Sociedade, 42: 221-241.

Monograph Book: Munk (2022) The Rise of Politically Motivated Cyber Attacks. Routledge. Abington. The United Kingdom. Publication date the 24th of March 2022

Book Chapter: Munk (2021) ‘Does Online Privacy Exist in the GDRP Era? The Google Voice Assistant Case' (Ed) Markou & Jougleux, Prastitou, Synodinou (2020/21) EU Internet Law. Springer.

Book Chapter: Munk (2020) ‘The Internet-of-Things: A Surveillance Wonderland’ (Ed) Owen and Marshall (2020) Rethinking Cybercrime: Critical Debates. Palgrave.

Book Chapter (2018): Munk (2018) ‘Policing Virtual Spaces: Public and Private Online Challenges in a Legal Perspective’ (Ed) Den Boer, M. (2018) Comparative Policing from a Legal Perspective. Research Handbooks in Comparative Law series. Edward Elgar Publishing. The United Kingdom.

Report 2016: Kemp, Munk and Gower (2016) Clinical Legal Education and Experiential Learning: Looking to the Future. The University of Manchester.

2015: PhD Thesis: Cyber-security in the European Region. Anticipatory Governance and Practices. The University of Manchester. The School of Law.

Report 2014: Loftus and Skinns with Munk and Rice (2014) ‘Policing Partnerships: Evidence Review.’ N8 Research Partnership.

Book chapter (2014): Kostakopoulou, Acosta and Munk (2014) ‘The Next Phrase of the European Union’s Labour Migration Regime: Opportunities and Challenges’ (Ed.) Acosta and Murphy (2014) EU Security and Justice Law after Lisbon and Stockholm. Hart Publishing.

Report 2013: Ellen, Fegan, Hassell, Munk, Schafheutle, Seston and Smith (2013) Disproportionality in the Professions. Working together to understand and respond to discrimination and prejudice’. Police, Law, Medicine and Pharmacy. The Manchester Centre for Regulation and Governance (ManReg), the University of Manchester.