The Stanford Law School Center for Internet & Society seeks a full-time Intermediary Liability Fellow with experience and interest in the intersection of laws governing Internet platforms, speech regulation, and constitutional or human rights frameworks.
Intermediary Liability laws set the rules of the road at a unique juncture of state and private power. Influence flows both ways - from states to private platforms, and the reverse. Powerful platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube may aid dissidents against oppressive states on the one hand, and disrupt public processes including elections in democratic states on the other. State pressure or regulation of platforms can protect the public interest and Internet users’ rights -- or may enable states to bypass constitutional limits and engage in “censorship by proxy.” Both the state and private exercises of power have serious consequences for the rights of Internet users and for the future of the Internet.
Intermediary Liability provides the intellectual and legal tools to navigate this complex relationship -- and to shape its future. Tools to protect Internet users’ rights include procedural mechanisms like those in the Manila Principles, and constitutional or human rights frameworks. The Intermediary Liability Fellow will develop robust analysis and policy recommendations in this area, and shepherd existing work including CIS’s renowned World Intermediary Liability Map project, which tracks developments around the world. They will work with, and under the supervision of, CIS’s Director of Intermediary Liability, Daphne Keller. Academic interests and excellence are a must for the position, but the primary focus will be on impact-oriented work supporting rights-protective Intermediary Liability laws and practices. Applicants should describe one or more projects they would propose to support this goal.
Duties include:
- Developing strategic projects to advance a user rights-based framework for intermediary liability law and policy, in collaboration with or under the supervision of the Intermediary Liability Director. Projects may include developing and drafting arguments in the form of legal briefs, submissions to lawmaking bodies, policymaker education materials, template materials to support related efforts in the US or around the world.
- Communicating and coordinating with other engaged organizations.
- Maintaining the CIS World Intermediary Liability Map, including technical management, contributing new content, collecting new content from contributing experts in other countries, and expanding the network of contributors.
- Participating in international meetings on Intermediary Liability issues
- Organizing and running events related to intermediary liability, as well as events for Stanford Law students, including outside speakers and panels.
- Managing the intermediary liability area of the CIS blog, writing blog posts on international developments and coordinating contributions from international experts.
- Developing and publishing your own written work in the field, as part of the strategic projects listed above or as a separate undertaking.
Qualifications:
- JD or equivalent foreign legal degree
- Work experience in Internet law or public interest – at least three years preferred, but exceptions may be made for exceptional candidates
- Prior professional or academic work relating to Intermediary Liability
- Public speaking experience
- Exceptional writing skills
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively
- Ability to work in a self-directed and entrepreneurial environment
The position is based at Stanford Law School. It is initially for eighteen months. The salary is competitive, commensurate with experience, and includes comprehensive Stanford University benefits. Working on the Stanford campu is not required, we are open to international candidates. Visa assistance provided if the candidate is planning work in the US.
Application Deadline: June 2, 2018
Application Instructions:
1) To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, a CV, list of three references, and three writing samples, all in PDF format, to cis@law.stanford.edu.
2) Applicants MUST also apply online via the Stanford Careers website at: https://careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/intermediary-liability-fellow-stanford-law-school-2296