INTERNETLAB is an independent research center that aims to foster academic debate around issues involving law and technology, especially internet policy. Their goal is to conduct interdisciplinary impactful research and promote dialogue among academics, professionals, and policymakers. They follow an entrepreneurial nonprofit model, which embraces their pursuit of producing scholarly research in the manner and spirit of an academic think tank. As a nexus of expertise in technology, public policy, and social sciences, our research agenda covers a wide range of topics, including privacy, freedom of speech, gender, and technology.

It is no secret that Internet usage has been increasing exponentially in Brazil. In 2012, the number of internet frequent users in Brazil reached 49% of the population and surpassed the number of people who have never been online (47%). With more than 100 million people connected, Brazil is the home of a very active user base. According to recent research, Brazilians spend approximately 44 hours per month on the web, which means they spend more time online than watching TV. In spite of this situation, every day they are confronted with court decisions and draft bills that may threaten the idea of an open and free internet. Their mission is to shed light on policy questions by generating, increasing, and disseminating knowledge in Brazil as well as by acting as a source of support for other related initiatives and research projects. As part of their mission, they collaborate with a network of scholars, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and institutions – both public and private – but remain an independent center.