Internet Lab

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.

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

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

• Internet policy research
• Digital rights research
• Law and technology
• Policy advocacy
• Academic research

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Privacy InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject 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 DireitocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Leading international digital rights organization.
• Instituto NupefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on connectivity research including 'Redes na Floresta' project on connectivity in the Amazon.
• Stellenbosch UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on South-South Approaches to Digital Public Infrastructure project focused on Brazil and South Africa.
• Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on political violence and hate speech research in messaging apps.
• Comitê Gestor da Internet (CGI.br)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject support partner (2025-2026). Brazilian Internet governance body responsible for Internet policy coordination in Brazil.
• Data Privacy BrasilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian organization focused on data privacy research and advocacy.
• Wikimedia FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject support partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on Midiateca Livre project for open access to culture in Espírito Santo.
• Wikimedia BrasilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Collaboration on open knowledge and culture projects.
• Folha de S.PaulomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Cabo Eleitoral podcast. Major Brazilian newspaper collaborating on technology and electoral policy content.
• Global Network Initiative (GNI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership (2025-2026). International multi-stakeholder initiative focused on freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector.
• Global Partners DigitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject support partner (2025-2026). Organization working on digital rights policy in the Global South.
• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject 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 PalermominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject support partner (2025-2026). Latin American academic center focused on freedom of expression.
• Fundación KarismaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Colombian digital rights organization.
• InternetBolíviaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Bolivian digital rights organization.
• Núcleo JornalismominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian journalism and technology initiative.
• Revista AzminaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian feminist media outlet collaborating on gender-based violence research.
• Rede Conhecimento SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Brazilian network focused on social knowledge.
• Momentum - Journalism & Tech Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner (2025-2026). Initiative focused on journalism and technology.
• AlSurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject support partner (2025-2026). Organization working on digital rights in Latin America.
• Huck, Otranto e Camargo AdvogadosminorOthersProject support partner (2025-2026). Brazilian law firm providing legal expertise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbOTC5qD4T5H_e-1M_eC5MA
• Facebookfacebook.com/internetlabbr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/internetlab
• Xx.com/internetlabbr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Internet Lab