Argentina: Internet Freedom, Cybersecurity, Digital Rights and Cyber-Diplomacy Project

Introduction

While the rampant progress of technology is changing our lives for the better, it does not come without serious and far-reaching problems. Cybersecurity, digital rights and ownership, internet freedom and cyber-diplomacy have all emerged as new areas to be confronted and overcome not just by Governments and business, but by society as a whole. This internship offers a fascinating opportunity to explore these issues but with a focus on human rights. You’ll get to experience all this while immersing yourself in the rich and diverse culture in Argentina. And because you’ll only be asked to work for around 18 hours a week, you’ll have plenty of time to make the most of your oversees trip. Our established internship program encourages a series of initiatives and projects to foster impactful and sustainable social development of the population through technology. It’s fun working as part of a multicultural team that sees a challenge as an opportunity.

During your internship in Argentina, you’ll work with technical experts, lawyers and even friendly hackers to develop solutions to fight cybercrime while promoting policies to protect the public in the face of ever-increasing digital challenges. Further, you’ll work with professionals from many disciplines, including journalists, artists, lawyers, sociologists, engineers and political scientists to exchange and then develop ideas to promote digital training and cyber-diplomacy that represents and protects society. The entirety of the program will give you the opportunity to put the skills you’ve been learning in the classroom into practice, as well as introduce you to team-building and problem-solving skills.

Daily Life

Your internship will be based at the host organisation’s offices in Palermo, Buenos Aires. You’ll get to undertake some remote work and have the possibility of attending technology-related events in the capital city itself (depending on time of visit and the local events calendar). With a relatively short working week (about 18 hours) under the direction of an English-speaking coordinator, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the culture of this large and exciting South American country.

The program is designed to fit around you, to best take advantage of your owns skills and interests, as well as the skills you’d like to develop further. A weekly or monthly agenda is agreed depending on your and the NGO needs, and your progress is evaluated at weekly mentoring and coaching sessions.

Here are just some of the things you might find yourself doing:

• Attending technology and social development events
• Office function activities
• Research and analysis of reports relating to human rights and technology
• Execution of awareness, policy or educational campaigns
• Events and workshop assistance
• Communications assistance
• Assistance in translation and English training (if applicable)
• Development of projects in different areas of the NGO

If you’d like to know more about areas of work on this technology and cybercrime internship, here are some examples of projects that are either ongoing or have been completed recently by interns:

• Identifying Internet-Accessible Critical Information Infrastructure. This project, sponsored by the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, assessed the global situation of critical information infrastructures. These are defined as networks run by the state or by organisations performing functions vital to society stability, such as banks, healthcare or policing. Identifying these CIIs is the first step to assessing risk of cybercrime on society.
• First Directory of Technology for Social Development. This project is ongoing and seeks to maintain an open database of relevant technologies. The directory will help stalling technology programs continue by attracting new backers or support.
• Interactive Exposition: Visions about technology. Interns have contributed to the running of a series of intensive workshops where local participants, such as artists, can be trained up in tricky Information and Communications Technology (ICT) concepts that they’d not normally be exposed to, such as techno-politics, digital rights and internet freedom. The best outcomes from these workshops were made available in a free and interactive exposition for the community. Check the images above to see how it turned out.

Travel & Accommodation

You will be met at the airport upon your arrival by a project representative and accompanied to your accommodation.

Accommodation and domestic transport is not included in the cost of this internship, however we will discuss with you before you arrive, what the best options are for you, and help you to decide.That way, when you arrive, you will be taken directly to your chosen accommodation, which you can always change again once you have settled in should you choose.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Good command of English, Spanish skills are a bonus but not required. Our staff speak English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
• Minimum commitment of 4 weeks, maximum 3 months.
• Minimum 18 hours per week
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flights & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance.

The internship program is open to students or graduates of careers related but not exclusive to Social Sciences, Law, International relations, Sociology, Political Sciences, Journalism, Arts, Communication, Computing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Economics among others.

If your area of expertise is not listed above, check with us when applying and we will see if we can accept you.

Costs

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee.
*** Placements are confirmed with a $300 deposit, balance is due 6 weeks prior to your arrival.

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes airport pickup, orientation, full assistance in finding somewhere close by to live, in-country support and project activities.

What’s not included:

Food, accommodation (See previous section for prices), flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support. Below you can find an approximate price guide to how much living costs are in Buenos Aires.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.