Pasting a paragraph into a translation tool feels disposable, like the text disappears once you've read the result. Depending on the service, that's not always true. Here's what's actually worth knowing before you translate something sensitive.
Where the text actually goes
When you submit text to an online translator, it travels to a server, gets processed by a translation model, and the result comes back to your browser. What happens to your original text after that depends entirely on the service's own policy. Some discard it immediately after processing. Others retain it temporarily for quality monitoring. A smaller number use submitted text to help train future versions of their models, meaning your text could, in aggregate and stripped of identifying details, influence how the system translates other people's text later.
What to check before translating something sensitive
Does the privacy policy mention data retention?
Look specifically for how long submitted text is stored, not just whether the service collects it. "We don't sell your data" and "we don't store your data" are different claims.
Is the text used for model training?
Some free tools fund their service partly by using submitted text to improve their models. This is usually disclosed in the privacy policy under a section about data usage or improvement of services.
Is an account required?
Tools that require an account can link your translation history to your identity. Tools that work without sign-up generally have less ability to tie submitted text back to a specific person.
Where is translation history stored?
Some tools keep a history of past translations server-side, tied to your account or device. Others keep history only in your browser, meaning it never leaves your device at all.
Categories of text worth being cautious with
| Text type | Caution level |
|---|---|
| Casual messages, menus, social posts | Low, generally fine for any translator |
| Business correspondence with proprietary details | Medium, check the tool's data policy first |
| Legal contracts or NDAs | High, consider a tool with no data retention or a human translator under confidentiality |
| Medical records or personal health information | High, many jurisdictions have specific rules about where this data can be processed |
| Government IDs, passwords, financial account numbers | Don't translate text containing these at all; redact first |
What to look for in a translator's privacy practices
- No account required to use the core translation feature
- Clear statement that submitted text isn't sold to third parties
- Translation history stored locally in the browser rather than on a server tied to your identity
- A privacy policy that's specific about retention periods, not just vague reassurance
Meguro English doesn't require an account, and translation history stays in your browser only.
Read the Privacy Policy