Internet Lab
InternetLab is a São Paulo–based, nonprofit independent research center studying law, technology, and society in Brazil. It produces policy research, podcasts, and an annual congress, funded by international foundations and served to civil society, media, and policymakers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersFairfax, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Internet Lab does
InternetLab is an independent, nonprofit research center headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, focused on the intersection of law, technology, and society. Founded in 2016, the organization conducts interdisciplinary research across six areas — Privacy and Surveillance, Freedom of Expression, Information and Politics, Inequalities and Identities, Culture and Knowledge, and Institutional Development — producing academic-style studies, policy briefs, podcasts (including Cabo Eleitoral with Folha de S.Paulo, Caixa-Preta, and Antivírus), and convenings such as the annual International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age, which reached its 10th edition in 2026.
Its underlying "product" is knowledge production and policy influence: empirical legal research, comparative analysis, and media-grade commentary. The center does not develop commercial software or sell subscriptions; all outputs are distributed free of charge. Technology is used primarily as a research subject (algorithmic governance, platform regulation, AI impacts on children and adolescents) rather than as a core delivery platform, though the organization maintains a digital presence through podcasts, a website, and academic publishing.
The business model is institutional philanthropy. InternetLab is funded through grants from international foundations (notably Ford, Rockefeller, Luminate, and IDRC), partnerships with peer organizations (Privacy International, EFF), academic institutions (University of São Paulo, Stellenbosch University), and contributions from government agencies and private-sector sponsors. In 2020, the disclosed funding mix was approximately 70.5% from international foundations, 9.8% from government agencies, and 19.7% from private-sector sources. There is no earned-income stream, no fee-for-service consulting arm, and no member dues; sustainability depends entirely on continued grant renewal and donor diversification.
Internet Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Internet Lab
- Legal name
- InternetLab
- Website
- https://internetlab.org.br
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- InternetLab is a São Paulo–based, nonprofit independent research center studying law, technology, and society in Brazil. It produces policy research, podcasts, and an annual congress, funded by international foundations and served to civil society, media, and policymakers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Internet Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Policy Research and Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Professional Organizations (81392), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed) (MPAJABAC), Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH), Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAD)
Keywords
Where Internet Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fairfax
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Internet Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional Funding: InternetLab is a nonprofit entity (entidade sem fins lucrativos) funded primarily by international foundations and third-sector organizations. According to 2020 data: 70.5% from international foundations and third-sector organizations, 9.8% from funding agencies, and 19.7% from private sector.
- Annual Reports: The organization publishes annual reports documenting activities, funding sources, and project outcomes. Publications available for 2016-2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels12 records
Internet Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
InternetLab is an independent, nonprofit interdisciplinary research center that produces academic research, policy analysis, publications, podcasts, and convening events at the intersection of law, technology, and society, with a primary focus on Brazilian internet policy and digital rights. Its core outputs include the Semanário weekly bulletin, the Revista academic journal, specialized publications (Dissenso, Algo_Ritmos), podcasts (Cabo Eleitoral, Caixa-Preta, Antivírus), and an annual International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age.
Product overview
Internet Lab is an independent interdisciplinary research center that promotes academic debate and knowledge production in law and technology, particularly in the field of the internet. The organization operates as a non-profit entity that functions as a coordination point between academics and representatives from the public sector, private sector, and civil society. Rather than offering a traditional tech product, Internet Lab provides research content and publications including a blog with articles and news, a weekly newsletter (Semanário) on internet politics, academic podcasts (Cabo Eleitoral, Caixa-Preta, Antivírus), an academic journal (Revista), a research library, and thematic research publications (Dissenso, Algo_Ritmos). Their work spans six research areas: Privacy and Surveillance, Inequalities and Identities, Information and Politics, Freedom of Expression, Culture and Knowledge, and Institutional topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cabo Eleitoral: Podcast that traces a panorama about the impacts and changes the internet brought to electoral campaigns. A partnership between InternetLab and Folha de S.Paulo.
- Caixa-Preta
- Antivírus
- Dissenso
- Algo_Ritmos
Products and services
- Semanário Weekly newsletter providing updates on internet politics and digital policy developments in Brazil and worldwide, available by subscription.
- Podcasts (Cabo Eleitoral, Caixa-Preta, Antivírus) Audio content series covering digital policy topics: Cabo Eleitoral (internet impacts on electoral campaigns, partnership with Folha de S.Paulo), Caixa-Preta (technology and digital policy), and Antivírus (cybersecurity and digital policy).
- Revista Academic journal publishing peer-reviewed research on law, technology, and society, available via a dedicated online platform.
- Dissenso Specialized publication platform publishing content on dissent, democratic discourse, and digital rights in online environments.
- Algo_Ritmos Research publication focused on algorithms, automated decision-making, and digital culture/knowledge.
- Biblioteca Digital research library hosting InternetLab publications and supporting documentation, accessible via the organization website.
- International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age Annual international congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age, organized in partnership with USP Law School; the 10th edition took place in 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age entering 10th edition in 2026
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Internet Lab
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Internet Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Internet Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Privacy InternationalcoreProject support partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on data justice and social protection policies in Brazil project. International privacy research organization.
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - Faculdade de DireitocoreProject partner (2025-2026). Long-standing partnership hosting the annual International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)majorProject partner (2025-2026). Leading international digital rights organization.
- Instituto NupefcoreProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on connectivity research including 'Redes na Floresta' project on connectivity in the Amazon.
- Stellenbosch UniversitymajorProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on South-South Approaches to Digital Public Infrastructure project focused on Brazil and South Africa.
- Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA)majorProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on political violence and hate speech research in messaging apps.
- Comitê Gestor da Internet (CGI.br)coreProject support partner (2025-2026). Brazilian Internet governance body responsible for Internet policy coordination in Brazil.
- Data Privacy BrasilmajorProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian organization focused on data privacy research and advocacy.
- Wikimedia FoundationmajorProject support partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on Midiateca Livre project for open access to culture in Espírito Santo.
- Wikimedia BrasilmajorProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on open knowledge and culture projects.
- Folha de S.PaulomajorPartnership for Cabo Eleitoral podcast. Major Brazilian newspaper collaborating on technology and electoral policy content.
- Global Network Initiative (GNI)majorNetwork membership (2025-2026). International multi-stakeholder initiative focused on freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector.
- Global Partners DigitalmajorProject support partner (2025-2026). Organization working on digital rights policy in the Global South.
- Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)minorProject support partner (2025-2026). International development organization focused on private sector development.
- Centro de Estudios en Libertad de Expresión y Acceso a la Información (CELE) - Universidade de PalermominorProject support partner (2025-2026). Latin American academic center focused on freedom of expression.
- Fundación KarismaminorProject partner (2025-2026). Colombian digital rights organization.
- InternetBolíviaminorProject partner (2025-2026). Bolivian digital rights organization.
- Núcleo JornalismominorProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian journalism and technology initiative.
- Revista AzminaminorProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian feminist media outlet collaborating on gender-based violence research.
- Rede Conhecimento SocialminorProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian network focused on social knowledge.
- Momentum - Journalism & Tech Task ForceminorProject partner (2025-2026). Initiative focused on journalism and technology.
- AlSurminorProject support partner (2025-2026). Organization working on digital rights in Latin America.
- Huck, Otranto e Camargo AdvogadosminorProject support partner (2025-2026). Brazilian law firm providing legal expertise.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Internet Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Access Now: Global digital rights organization defending and extending the internet as an open, free, and safe platform. Operates with a substantially larger budget and global footprint; overlaps with InternetLab on intermediary liability, surveillance, and platform-regulation research.
- Privacy International: UK-based nonprofit conducting investigations and litigation on government and corporate surveillance. 2025-2026 institutional and project partner of InternetLab on data justice; a larger international counterpart focused on similar privacy and surveillance issues.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Leading US-based digital rights organization working on privacy, free expression, and innovation. Listed as a 2025-2026 project partner of InternetLab; significantly larger and broader in scope, but shares research-advocacy mission on overlapping issues.
Others
- Coalizão Direitos na Rede: Brazilian multi-stakeholder coalition of civil society organizations advocating for internet rights, of which InternetLab is a member. A coalition/ecosystem participant rather than a direct research competitor, but a key coordinating node for the same constituency.
Direct peers
- Asociación por los Derechos Civiles (ADC): Argentine independent civil rights organization conducting legal research, advocacy, and litigation on freedom of expression, privacy, and internet rights. Closely comparable as a Latin American nonprofit research and advocacy peer focused on law and technology.
- Fundación Karisma: Colombian digital rights organization producing research and policy analysis on technology, human rights, and the internet. Listed as a 2025-2026 partner of InternetLab; operates the same research-advocacy model in a neighboring jurisdiction.
- Article 19 (Brazil office): Global freedom-of-expression organization with an active Brazil office conducting research, advocacy, and litigation on digital rights. Overlaps directly with InternetLab's freedom-of-expression and intermediary-liability research agenda.
- Data Privacy Brasil: Brazilian nonprofit research organization focused on data privacy, surveillance, and digital rights. Listed as a 2025-2026 project partner of InternetLab; directly comparable in mission, geography, research output, and funder base.
Regional players
- Centro de Estudios en Libertad de Expresión y Acceso a la Información (CELE): Academic center at Universidad de Palermo (Argentina) focused on freedom of expression and access to information. 2025-2026 project support partner of InternetLab; comparable mission but anchored in Argentina rather than Brazil.
Emerging players
- Núcleo Jornalismo: Brazilian journalism-and-technology initiative producing investigative reporting and research on digital platforms. Listed as a 2025-2026 partner of InternetLab; comparable in the information-and-politics research niche, with a journalism rather than legal-academic lens.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Internet Lab social profiles
Digital presenceInternet Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Internet Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Internet Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Internet Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Internet Lab
What does Internet Lab do?
InternetLab is an independent, nonprofit interdisciplinary research center that produces academic research, policy analysis, publications, podcasts, and convening events at the intersection of law, technology, and society, with a primary focus on Brazilian internet policy and digital rights. Its core outputs include the Semanário weekly bulletin, the Revista academic journal, specialized publications (Dissenso, Algo_Ritmos), podcasts (Cabo Eleitoral, Caixa-Preta, Antivírus), and an annual International Congress on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Procedure in the Digital Age.
Is Internet Lab a public or private company?
Internet Lab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Internet Lab founded?
Internet Lab was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Internet Lab based?
Internet Lab is headquartered in Fairfax, United States, in the North America region.
How does Internet Lab make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Institutional Funding is the primary driver. The others are annual Reports.
Who are Internet Lab's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Access Now, Privacy International and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Coalizão Direitos na Rede is listed as an others. Direct peers are Asociación por los Derechos Civiles (ADC), Fundación Karisma, Article 19 (Brazil office) and Data Privacy Brasil. Centro de Estudios en Libertad de Expresión y Acceso a la Información (CELE) is listed as a regional player. Núcleo Jornalismo is listed as an emerging player.
Does Internet Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Internet Lab.
What industry is Internet Lab in?
Internet Lab's product category is Policy Research and Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAE, Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights, with a secondary code of MPAJABAC, Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed). Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8600.