Fall 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Privacy and Data Governance

The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Intern in the Privacy & Data Governance Unit of the National ACLU Office in New York. This Internship is part-time and hybrid from our New York Office.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The Privacy and Data Governance Unit enables the ACLU to honor individual privacy and choice, protects data in our possession, and strives to become a leader in non-profit data governance practices. Our objectives are to center individual choice and transparency in our data practices, enable effective communication operations (e.g., advocacy, fundraising, organizing) by ensuring data is accurate and reflects individual choice, and ensure our policies, processes, and practices comply with legal requirements and industry best practices.

What You’ll Do:

The Privacy & Data Governance Intern will participate in cutting edge-policy research to safeguard privacy and free speech and promote social justice in the digital world. Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the team assisting in all aspects of privacy and data governance administration including working on various privacy implementation projects, consumer privacy law research, and help author reports and presentations. At times, work may arise that gives interns the opportunity to work across National’s broad program areas and with our affiliate colleagues on AI, consumer privacy, and surveillance and technology issues. 

Your Day to Day

• Conducting research on trends in the privacy regulation landscape, including proposed privacy legislation across the US, and leading practices for strengthening data protection practices.
• Prepping for, attending, and contributing to Program Team and Working Group meetings.
• Reviewing ACLU data practices and working with Departments to strengthen those practices.
• Drafting memoranda, reports, and presentations
• Researching best practices for data de-identification, data minimization, and delivering data subject rights
• Researching and drafting materials for staff education

What You’ll Bring:

The internship is open to students enrolled at U.S. graduate and law schools who will have completed at least one year of postgrad school before the internship commences. 

•    Knowledge of data governance principles and practices, including data confidentiality and privacy considerations.
•    Understanding of the current privacy regulation landscape in the United States.
•    Understanding of data management systems and how they operate (preferred).
•    Knowledge of non-profit management and operations (preferred).
•    Experience working with a diverse group of stakeholders and facilitating consensus-based decisions.
•    Experience developing compliance strategies (preferred).
•    Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, including the ability to compose, edit, and proof correspondence and documents.
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is part-time and Hybrid from our NYC National office.
• Time Commitment: Part-time (10, 15 or 20 hours/week) 
• Internship Duration: Part-time internships span 12 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: September 8th or September 21st
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
  • Below are the stipend rates:
    • $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience

This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us. 

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

To maintain the integrity of our assessment process, please refrain from using AI-powered chatbots, search engines, or real-time assistance tools to generate your CV, cover letter or writing sample (if required). We want to better understand your individual skills and thought processes. If you require AI tools or other assistive technology as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Accommodation Request Form so that we can support an accessible and equitable experience.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.