Translators’ perceptions of privacy, confidentiality and information security

As translators increasingly work in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered cloud-based environments, privacy and confidentiality risks affecting translation resources and their users are likely to increase. This study explores translators’ data management practices and their perceptions of privacy, confidentiality and information security. Drawing on a survey of 439 professional translators, three key concerns emerged. Firstly, translators generally prioritised client data (e.g., source texts) over their own (e.g., their resources and online activity). Secondly, translators faced challenges due to a lack of transparency regarding data storage, usage and processing, which on occasion evoked a sense of powerlessness and privacy cynicism. Thirdly, technology ownership and provision influenced translators’ perceptions. When clients provided a computer-assisted translation tool, translators tended to believe that clients were responsible for data protection. By foregrounding translators’ experiences, this study advances the understanding of how translators perceive and negotiate privacy, confidentiality and information security in an increasingly AI-mediated profession.