Transcription services are used across most industries.
And for good reason–turning audio into text offers a bunch of benefits from reliable records of interviews and meetings to greater accessibility, not to mention countless hours of work saved.
However, don’t let convenience make you careless.
If you’re planning on getting texts transcribed, look beyond the practical rewards; It’s important to take on ethical considerations in transcription services when picking a service provider.
Why Ethical Considerations in Transcription Services Are Important
Here’s the deal.
Whether you’re using a transcription service to turn an academic lecture into reference notes or to translate a YouTube video into multiple languages, you have a responsibility to protect the rights of the people behind the voices.
On top of that, the transcribed information must be completely accurate.
For starters, you must meet professional standards, particularly when managing sensitive information.
Clumsy translations or cultural insensitivities can land you in hot water.
Following that, a clear and correct transcription maintains the trust of those whose words are being transcribed, and those who’ll ultimately hear them.
Finally, do you know what happens to both the original and transcribed material once the transcription service has signed off on your job?
This is something to scope out before you submit your audio.
All ethical transcription services will likely have data protection measures in place but always check beforehand.
So, whether you’re planning on using an AI tool or a human transcriptionist to turn your audio to text, here are some of the ethical considerations to keep tabs on:
1. Privacy
Privacy is probably top of the list when it comes to ethical considerations in transcription services.
If you’re transcribing sensitive information such as medical reports or legal proceedings, then the individuals in question will want to be sure that their info remains confidential and secure.
Before using a transcription service, give their privacy policy a once over.
Take note of how your data will be stored and used, and whether there are structures in place to protect it from unauthorized access.
In addition, depending on their region, check whether your chosen transcription service is fully compliant with data protection laws like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA.
2. Consent
Whether using AI or people-powered transcription services, make sure there are clear opt-ins when it comes to consent.
Consent should never be implied.
Even if you give the green light, make sure you always have the choice to withdraw or delete the information you submit at any stage.
Plus, it should go without saying that if the audios in question entail private interviews or sensitive data, those involved need to be aware from the get-go that their words may be transcribed. That’s on you as the individual or business transcribing the text.
3. Handling Sensitive Information
If you’re transcribing sensitive information, make sure your selected transcription provider has specific protocols in place for handling this kind of data.
You can also check to see if the service you’re using offers options for “anonymizing data.”
This is particularly useful if you need to get audio transcribed but don’t want the individuals in the data to be easily identified.
4. Accuracy
Using real people to transcribe your audio or video files often ensures better accuracy.
However, human-powered transcriptions tend to take longer than AI tools, which can return your transcriptions in minutes rather than days or weeks.
AI has come a long way, even in the last couple of years.
So, if using an AI transcription system, check its Word Error Rate (WER). This is the most common metric for gauging accuracy.
For a quality service, you’ll want the system to have a WER of 5-10%.
5. Easy Communication
Any transcription company you can’t get at the end of an email or phone call should be avoided.
Even if you’re not transcribing anything sensitive or personal, it’s your data and you need to make sure it stays that way.
You also want the confidence of knowing that if you have a question or any kind of concern, there are clear and open lines of communication between you and the transcriber.
Companies that don’t respect you enough to return a call or a three-line email, likely won’t respect your information either, so steer clear.
Final Thoughts
Transcription services offer super benefits to several different industries. From healthcare and corporate sectors to academia and media, seminars, webinars, and video content can be transcribed for reference or accountability, saving a ton of time and effort.
Plus, the arrival of AI-driven transcription tools onto the scene has made services faster and more affordable.
However, ethical considerations in transcription services should never be overlooked, especially if the data you’re planning to transcribe is confidential, personal, or proprietary information.
Always check out the service you plan to use before you use it. Read their privacy policy in detail and do a deep dive into their reputation.
Look out for user reviews and any testimonials giving a thumbs up to their professionalism and ethical practices.
Once you’re satisfied that the service is above board and ethical, you can start transcribing with confidence.
If you’re looking for a reliable and reputable transcription service right now, why not try out our AI transcription tool?
Our tool can transcribe spoken or recorded data asap. You just need to upload your media file, which you can do in any language and multiple formats, and our system will quickly and accurately transcribe the content into text.
If you want to find out more, you can always call for a chat.
And, of course, if you’re looking for someone to record your already transcribed text, we can help too!
Just choose from our wide selection of voice over talent or get in touch.
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