The Google Translate Toolkit – Privacy Issues

With the Internet becoming more and more widespread, the Google Translator Toolkit is an extremely useful and convenient tool. It is an online tool that can be used to translate a large number of languages. The Google Translator Toolkit requires users to upload content that needs translation to Google’s servers. Only then can Google Translate help you get accurate translations.

However, since all the data and content that needs to be translated needs to be uploaded to the servers, there are some people who are concerned about the privacy of the documents or content that is translated using the Google Translator Toolkit. If you need to understand the security of your documents and the privacy policy followed by the company, you only need to consult the terms and conditions page. This is the page that details the privacy policy regarding the different types of content uploaded for translation.

Google Translate Toolkit Terms and Conditions

There is a section in the privacy and security terms in the Google Translator Toolkit that says “If you remove your content, Google will remove the content from its servers and will not use it for any further improvement of the Services after the date of such removal from its servers..” What this actually means is that if you upload any content and then delete it after getting your translations, Google will also delete it from their servers.

Everything is extremely simple, because if you want the content you have uploaded not to be seen or used by anyone else, all you need to do is delete it once your work is done.

However, please note that privacy settings are different for different types of content when translations are performed. While the content is also safe at the time, the level of privacy depends on the nature of the file type and other such details:

Documents and Glossaries – When you use the Google Translator Toolkit for document translations and glossaries, you can be sure that no one but you can access the content you have. There is no problem with this type of translation.

Outsource translation memories – For anything that doesn’t come in the documents and glossaries segment and is actually an external translation, there are several options you have in terms of ensuring the privacy settings of memories. Here too, it is you who decides what level of settings you want to keep for your outsourced translation memories and the level at which you want to share them.

Restrictive privacy settings – Choosing the most restrictive option ensures that no one but you can see the content unless you have specifically shared the content with someone else.

Permissive privacy settings – At the other extreme is the option where you can allow all users to see the translation memory, but this can only be done one at a time. On top of that, no one can actually download your translation memory.

If you’re not sure which option to choose but want your content to stay with you and not be shared with anyone, make sure you choose the restrictive option.

Another great thing is that when you vote for the best translation candidates, your vote is not shared or disclosed to anyone. All details provided are cumulative only to ensure complete privacy.

conclusion

Google has defined special Terms and Conditions for the Google Translator Toolkit. These terms explicitly state how privacy issues related to user content are addressed with the Toolkit. The main message of the terms is that the user has the power to decide the level of privacy applied to their content in the Google Translator Toolkit. This discretion enables the safe and secure outsourcing of online translation through the Google Translator Toolkit.