US Policy Internships (Spring and Summer 2024)

The Future of Privacy Forum (“FPF”) is a non-profit organization that serves as a catalyst for privacy leadership and scholarship, advancing principled data practices in support of emerging technologies. FPF brings together industry, academics, consumer advocates, and other thought leaders to explore the challenges posed by technological innovation and develop privacy protections, ethical norms and workable business practices. FPF helps fill the void in the “space not occupied by law” which exists due to the speed of technology development. As “data optimists,” we believe that the power of data for good is a net benefit to society, and that it can be well-managed to control risks and offer the best protections and empowerment to consumers and individuals.

FPF seeks legal, policy, and technical interns to support the US Policy team and its policy staff. The US policy team engages in a wide variety of issue areas related to the intersection of privacy, emerging technology, and evolving commercial business practices. This includes, for example, researching and analyzing the impact of new technologies, advising companies on emerging data practices, engaging with policymakers and partners, and conducting a variety of legal, technical, and policy research and thought leadership. Issue portfolios may include – but are not limited to – Big Data and the Internet of Things, connected cars, online advertising, mobile location data use, smart cities, deidentification standards, algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI/ML), biometrics, and emerging regulation (law).

Please read this page carefully for information on the internship structures, compensation, and requirements.

Internship Structure (primarily in-person in Washington, DC):

• Summer: Typically, FPF’s summer interns participate in a 10-week Internship Program in Washington, DC that is full-time (40 hours/week) and runs from early June to mid-August. Summer Interns are expected to work from the Washington, DC office at least three days per week in-person. Exceptional candidates may be able to work remotely.
• Fall and Spring: Fall and Spring interns typically join FPF for a 14-week period during the Fall or Spring semesters, part-time (10-20 hours/week) (not including a week off for a Spring Break), with flexible start and end dates depending on the student’s academic calendar. In-person internships are encouraged, although there is greater flexibility during the Fall and Spring for remote work.

What We Look For:

• We welcome students of any graduate-level academic or professional background (typically, this includes law students, MA/MBA, PhD students, and/or career professionals). The only “must have” is a demonstrated interest in privacy and data protection. We are not currently accepting undergraduate student interns.
• Summer Interns are expected to work in-person from the Washington, DC office at least three days per week, although exceptional candidates may be able to work remotely. Fall and Spring interns are typically able to work remotely.

Compensation:

• FPF policy is to compensate interns, unless a student is receiving other funding (e.g. from their institution), or is choosing to receive academic credit from an institution that does not allow them to be compensated.
• Interns may choose to either complete their internship for school credit or to be paid at a rate of $20/hour during the Spring and Fall semesters. Summer interns are paid at a rate of $2,500 per month, pro-rated for partial months of work.

Application Requirements and Process:

• Please submit a Cover Letter and Resume in PDF format in an application through the FPF Career Center (links provided below).
• Applications are reviewed throughout the year to fill positions on a rolling basis (so we encourage applying early). A link to apply for each semester is typically provided 3-6 months before the deadline for each semester. If you have already submitted an application, and would like your application to be moved to a different semester or new materials added, please email [email protected]
• Top candidates will be contacted with an invitation to join a 30-minute Zoom interview.

Deadlines:

Spring 2024 Program Dates: Monday, January 8, 2024 – Friday, April 19, 2024
Deadline to Apply: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Status: Applications are now open.

Summer 2024 Program Dates: Monday, June 3, 2024 to Friday, August 9, 2024
Deadline to Apply: Sunday, January 28, 2024
Status: Applications are now open.