Privacy Papers for Policymakers (PPPM) Awards

Program Type: Research award recognizing leading privacy scholarship

The PPPM Awards recognize leading research and analytical scholarship in privacy relevant to policymakers in the U.S. and internationally. The award highlights important work that analyzes current and emerging privacy and AI issues and proposes achievable short-term solutions or means of analysis that have the potential to lead to real-world policy solutions.

Focus Areas

• Privacy and AI governance
• Data protection
• Current and emerging privacy issues
• Algorithmic accountability
• Biometric data
• Education technology and student privacy
• Digital governance

Geographic Scope

• United States
• International

Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants: Privacy scholars, researchers, authors, and students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs)
• Work Requirements: Completed papers, books, empirical research, or other longer-form analyses
• Timeframe: Work completed, accepted, or published within the last 12 months
• Language: English language submissions required

Award Categories

1. General PPPM Award - Open to all scholars and researchers
2. Student Paper Award - For work authored by students
3. Honorable Mentions - Selected from finalist submissions

Selection Criteria

Winning papers are selected based on:

• Originality of research and ideas
• Applicability to policymaking - relevance to legislators and regulators
• Overall quality of writing

Benefits to Winners

• Publication of paper summary in FPF Digital Digest
• Opportunity to present work at virtual events featuring policymakers and privacy leaders
• Recognition in press releases to media
• Global visibility among policymakers and data protection authorities
• For U.S.-focused papers: invitation to present at annual event in Washington, D.C.
• For international papers: invitation to showcase work at virtual event
• Inclusion in printed digest distributed to policymakers

Recent Award Cycle Information

16th Annual Awards (2026):

• Winners Announced: January 26, 2026
• Seven winning papers, two honorable mentions, one student submission selected
• Virtual presentation events: March 4 and March 11, 2026
• Topics included: AI governance, algorithmic harms, privacy dark patterns, biometric data, data protection law

15th Annual Awards (2025):

• Events held: March 2025 (Washington, D.C. and virtual)

Submission Requirements

Format:

• Submissions must be in PDF, DOC, or DOCX format, or as a publicly available link
• Papers must be in English

Required Materials:

1. Completed paper - academic paper, book, empirical research, or longer-form analysis
2. One-page Executive Summary or Abstract
3. Author's complete contact information
4. Author's affiliation information

Content Guidelines:

• Focus on privacy or AI governance, specifically emphasizing data protection
• Must be relevant to policymakers
• Work must be completed, accepted, or published within the last 12 months

Submission Deadlines

• 17th Annual (Next Cycle): October 30, 2025 (for 16th award, this deadline has passed)
• Current Cycle (16th Annual): October 1, 2025 (deadline passed as of April 3, 2026)
• Deadlines are typically announced in September, with submissions due in October

Evaluation Process

Selection Committee:

• Diverse team of FPF staff members and advisors from:
  • Academia
  • Industry privacy professionals
  • Advocates
  • FPF Advisory Board members

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Originality - novel ideas and research approaches
2. Applicability to policymaking - relevance to legislators and regulators
3. Overall quality of writing - clarity and rigor

Award Categories

1. General PPPM Award - open to all qualified scholars and researchers
2. Student Paper Award - same submission requirements and deadline as general award
3. Honorable Mentions - selected from finalist submissions

Post-Selection Process

• Winners are announced (typically in January)
• Winning authors are invited to present at virtual events (typically March)
• Summaries are published in FPF Digital Digest
• Winners highlighted in press releases to media

Notes

• No entry fee mentioned
• Faculty and mentors are encouraged to share opportunity with colleagues and students
• Program encourages international submissions from various regions