Digital Policy Intern

ISD is a think and do tank that works globally to safeguard public safety, national security, human rights and democracy in the digital age. Combining research and analysis with government advisory work and the design and delivery of international training, education and communications programs, ISD works to implement real-world, evidence-based responses to these challenges. ISD has teams in London, Amman, Berlin, Paris and Washington DC. 

Why work for ISD? 

ISD is not your ordinary think tank. We turn research into action that changes the world. Our insights don't gather dust on shelves - they power the fight to protect democracy and human rights on the front lines. We're committed to delivering real change, from the grassroots to the highest levels of global institutions. And we're looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to making a difference. Join us and be part of an organisation that's making an impact. 

 
ISD's Guiding Principles of  integrity, collaboration, agility and courage  define who we are as a team and an organisation. These principles reflect our culture and guide the way we work and the choices we make. 

Our benefits 

• Flexible and remote working based on ISD's Time Principles of trust, communication and flexibility. 

• Generous annual leave policies.

• 1 week of additional paid time off over Christmas, outside of your annual leave entitlement. 

• Additional paid time off for development.

• Sick pay and enhanced family friendly policies and compassionate leave. 

• Annual personal development budget. 

• Remote working budget. 

• Employee Assistance Programme and dedicated counsellors for those working with potentially traumatic content. 

• Inclusive wellbeing programme with regular wellbeing initiatives.

Salary

London Living Wage - £14.80 per hour.

Location 

You may work from our UK office in London, or in a hybrid or remote arrangement to suit you. The successful candidate is required to have the right to work in the UK. We cannot provide Visa sponsorship for this role.

Contract type 

6-month fixed term contract.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

ISD is committed to promoting diversity throughout its workforce and aims for its team to be truly representative of all sections of society. We make a concerted effort to ensure our workplace, employment policies and organisational culture creates an inclusive, positive and progressive environment in which all members of our team are treated with dignity and respect. For further information about this policy or our recruitment practices, please email vacancies@isdglobal.org. 

 
We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, carers, and people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. 

Role Purpose 

The Digital Policy Intern would work closely with the Digital Policy team across London, Berlin and Washington DC to support ISD’s work on digital legislation, regulation and platform accountability across Europe and North America. They will assist the team in tracking legislative, regulatory and policy developments, support events and engagements with ISD’s extensive Digital Policy Lab (DPL) network, help research and produce written outputs, and contribute to expanding ISD’s work into new areas (e.g. AI policy).  

Please find a detailed job description here.

Key responsibilities include:

• Research & Policy Monitoring (30%) 
• Tracking relevant legislative and regulatory developments in various priority jurisdictions (e.g. EU, UK, US Federal & State levels, Canada, Australia & New Zealand) and selected other contexts in the Global South.  
• Conduct ad-hoc background research on private sector tech company policies and developments to support ISD’s Leadership, Comms, and Senior Management teams. 
  

• Digital Policy Written Outputs (20%) 

• Supporting the Digital Policy team in drafting responses to government and/or regulator public consultations, preparing DPL Policy Digests and Explainers, and conducting background research for other digital policy written outputs as required.   
   
• Digital Policy Network Engagement & Events (30%)  
• Supporting the team in delivering DPL online sessions and events, including researching potential speakers (government, academia, civil society), producing attendance lists, note-taking during sessions and drafting summary notes.  
• Maintaining and updating ISD’s digital policy contacts and mailing lists.  
• Conducting background research prior to engagement calls with DPL members.  
• Maintaining internal shared calendar of digital policy events and legislative processes and joining selected external events.  
  
• Internal Communication & Development (20%) 
• Helping to consolidate and organise existing ISD digital policy-related outputs and materials across different areas of ISD’s work (i.e., terrorism, extremism, hate, dis/misinformation). 
• Supporting internal communications and information sharing on digital policy. 
• Supporting the identification and scoping of potential funding opportunities. 
  

The ideal candidate 

Interns at ISD play an important role in the organisation and support teams in several ways, from working on large organisation-wide projects, to various ad hoc tasks which will build out your wider experience and exposure.

Please review our  job description for essential criteria, and keep in mind that no candidate will meet every requirement in the advert. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified, but you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to hear from you.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted by 17th December 2025. ISD reserves the right to conduct interviews and make appointments prior to the stated deadline. Applications may be submitted in English.
 

If you have any further questions about this vacancy or want to speak to a member of our recruitment team, please contact vacancies@isdglobal.org.