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Review preferences due Friday 31st October 1800 CETWritten on 28.10.25 (last change on 28.10.25) by Sylvain Chatel Hello Everyone, Thanks for proposing some interesting papers. We have added some to the reading list. Please fill in your bids by Friday 31st October 1800 CET on HotCRP https://uds-psas25.hotcrp.com/reviewprefs Use the following metrics: 2="I want to champion this paper", 1="this is a good… Read more Hello Everyone, Thanks for proposing some interesting papers. We have added some to the reading list. Please fill in your bids by Friday 31st October 1800 CET on HotCRP https://uds-psas25.hotcrp.com/reviewprefs Use the following metrics: 2="I want to champion this paper", 1="this is a good paper for me", 0="neutral", -1="I would prefer not to". Please bid positively on at least 12 papers (with at least 3 papers with a 2). We will proceed with the assignment after Friday.
Here is what is going to happen in the coming weeks: Each of you will be assigned as a "champion" (aka primary) to one paper and secondary reviewersto two other papers. Both champion and reviewers need to provide a review of the paper by Nov 21st 1800 CET. All are expected to partake in the discussion phase until Dec 5th. The champion will present the paper on Dec 5th morning in C0.
Have a great evening. Best, Sylvain
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Kick off Meeting SummaryWritten on 24.10.25 by Sylvain Chatel Hello Everyone, TLDR; the seminar will run a mini conference In this seminar, we will run a mini-conference. The idea is for you to experience what it is like to be a reviewer and to also think critically about research papers. Each student will be assigned several paper (and will be the… Read more Hello Everyone, TLDR; the seminar will run a mini conference In this seminar, we will run a mini-conference. The idea is for you to experience what it is like to be a reviewer and to also think critically about research papers. Each student will be assigned several paper (and will be the designated champion for one of them). The tasks of the seminar is to review the assigned paper, participate in the reviewers' discussion, present the paper they champion on Dec 5th, and write a paper by the end of the semester.
Todo: - optionally; scroll the program of the recent Security and Privacy conference for interesting paper you'd like to add to the list. You can check the detailed program for Usenix Security, PETs, NDSS, S&P, and CCS and previous 3 years. - By the end of next week (starting from Wednesday) enter your bids in HotCRP.
Important: We will have an in person meeting on Friday December 5th, 2025 from 9am to 1pm.
The slides of the kick off meeting are in the material section. Sylvain |
Privacy Systems and Applications Seminar
As technology becomes prevalent, we carry more and more devices everywhere we go and our digital trail becomes more and more pronounced. On the one hand, digitalization brings enormous benefits. On the other hand, it makes it almost much easier to violate user's privacy, to surveil large fractions of a population, and sometimes even to control or influence what people do and think.
In this seminar, we will look at privacy-enhancing technologies, digital means that can help counteract this reduction in privacy caused by increasing digitalization.
We will read and discuss new and seminal papers to learn about new techniques and ideas in the field of privacy-enhancing technologies. You will learn how to critically analyze and present existing research papers, emulate a small scale conference, and think about your own research ideas.
Example of topics covered will include:
- Systems for End-to-End Privacy
- Anonymous Communication Systems
- Private Set Intersection
- Private Information Retrieval
- Fully-Homomorphic Encryption
- Censorship Resistance Systems
Organization (TBC):
- Every student will present one / two research paper and animate a discussion session about it.
- For every presented paper, remaining students will read the paper and write a “review” (like a program committee for a real conference)
- All students will also propose a couple of research ideas that would extend the work presented (e.g., application, solving a shortcoming, etc.)
- By the end of the semester, each student will submit a paper surveying the topic that they presented (based on the papers they read as well as other papers in the area). This paper should incorporate the discussion in class and critically reflect on / explore potential future research directions.
Requirement:
- Basics of cryptography and security: required
- Advanced cryptography and PETs: strongly recommended
Grading:
The final grade for this course consists of the presentation(s), the reviews, the summary, and the participation throughout the semester.
Grading subject to small changes. Details will be explained in the first lecture.
Registration:
Please register on LSF by November 17th
Location and Time:
Kick-off: Friday, October 24th 9:15-11:00 in E9 1 (CISPA main building) room 0.02
Oct 28 – Submit paper suggestions
Oct 30 – Submit bids on papers
Nov 21 – Reviews due
Dec 5 – Presentations (in person: allocate whole morning)
Feb 27 – Final paper submission
Mar 5-6 – Paper submission debrief (tentative)