AI Governance & Data Security in Translation

AI can improve translation speed, consistency and efficiency, but it needs appropriate controls.

At ALM, AI is used within managed multilingual workflows that consider the content, its sensitivity, intended use, quality requirements and your organisation’s own AI policies. This allows you to benefit from AI-assisted translation while maintaining control over your content, data and quality.

What Does AI Governance Mean for Your Organisation?

Different content carries different levels of risk. A high-volume internal document may not require the same translation workflow as regulated technical documentation, commercially sensitive material or content intended for public release.

Our approach to AI risk management considers the type and sensitivity of your content, its intended use, your quality requirements and your organisation’s own AI policies before determining an appropriate workflow.

This means:

• You control how AI is used. Clients can define where AI is permitted, restricted or prohibited.
• Your data is protected. AI-assisted workflows follow defined security and confidentiality controls.
• Human oversight is applied where required. Specialist linguists remain responsible for reviewing and delivering content where professional human expertise forms part of the agreed workflow.
• Your policies can become part of the process. Client-specific AI, confidentiality, security and retention requirements can be incorporated into the multilingual workflow.

How Does AI Governance Work in Translation?

Not every document needs the same translation process and not every use of AI carries the same risk. Before using AI-assisted technology, we consider factors including:

• content type and complexity
• confidentiality and data sensitivity
• intended audience and purpose
• regulatory or industry requirements
• required level of translation quality
• client-specific AI and security policies
• appropriate levels of human review

You remain in control. AI can be permitted, restricted or excluded from your workflow according to your requirements.

Your Content Is Not AI Training Data

ALM does not use client content to train public or third-party AI models, or permit third parties to do so, without explicit written consent.

Confidential client content is not submitted to public chatbots or consumer AI platforms.

Where AI-assisted technology is appropriate, ALM uses vetted tools and defined controls according to the sensitivity and requirements of the content.

Human Oversight and Human-in-the-Loop

AI can support translation, terminology, quality checks and other defined tasks, but it does not replace professional judgement.

Where human review forms part of the agreed workflow, qualified professionals remain responsible for reviewing and delivering the final content.

The level of AI assistance and specialist human oversight can therefore be matched to the content, context and risk, rather than applying the same process to every project.

AI Governance Extends to Our Linguists and Team

Responsible AI use depends on the people using the technology and the technology itself.

Our AI governance requirements apply to linguists, our internal team and service providers working on ALM projects. Service providers must follow ALM’s AI Usage Policy and check project-specific instructions before using AI. Where a client restricts or prohibits AI, those requirements must be followed.

Where AI is permitted, it remains a supporting tool. The linguist remains professionally responsible for the accuracy, quality and confidentiality of the final work. Access to client content and approved technology is controlled according to role and project requirements

AI Translation Data Security and Confidentiality

AI governance forms part of ALM’s wider approach to information security and confidentiality.

Controls can include:

• controlled access to client files and systems
• secure file transfer
• approved AI and translation technology
• confidentiality and supplier controls
• data retention and secure deletion
• encryption where supported
• incident response procedures

These requirements also apply to linguists and service providers working on ALM projects. Client-specific AI, confidentiality, security and retention requirements can be incorporated into the workflow.

Governance Within Your Language Operations

AI governance should not sit separately from your translation and localisation operation.

Security requirements, approved technologies, terminology, quality controls and levels of human review can be incorporated into the multilingual workflow depending on the content being processed.

ALM’s Language Operations Suite brings these processes together, helping organisations manage multilingual content through structured workflows while applying

the appropriate combination of technology, automation and specialist human expertise.