Fall 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Privacy and Data Governance

ACLU - Internships; New York (NY); On-site; USD 22,730 - 32,373; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend of $20/hr

Hybrid working options

Work/study or course credit arrangements

Job summary

The ACLU is seeking a Fall 2026 Undergraduate Intern for the Privacy and Data Governance Unit in New York. This part-time hybrid internship enables students to gain valuable experience in privacy regulation and data governance while working alongside a dedicated team.

Responsibilities include conducting research, drafting reports, and contributing to meetings. Knowledge of data governance and excellent communication skills are essential. A stipend is available for eligible students.

Qualifications

• Must be a matriculated undergraduate or graduate student.
• The internship requires strong written communication skills.
• Knowledge of non-profit management is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on privacy regulation trends.
• Draft memoranda, reports, and presentations.
• Contribute to Program Team and Working Group meetings.

Skills

Knowledge of data governance principles

Understanding of privacy regulation landscape

Excellent communication skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Current undergraduate or graduate student

Job description

Fall 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Privacy and Data Governance

Hybrid – New York

We are seeking an Undergraduate Intern for the Privacy & Data Governance Unit of the National ACLU Office in New York.

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 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: Limited number of remote or hybrid 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. Start date: 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.

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.