Ethical Challenges of Translating and Interpreting Confidential Legal and Political Texts

Abstract

The study examines the ethical challenges faced by translators/interpreters working with confidential legal and political texts, focusing on how they cope with the demands of accuracy, confidentiality, legal liability, and public interest. The aim of this study is to identify recurring ethical dilemmas, trace translators’/interpreters’ decision-making processes, and demonstrate how institutional constraints and modern technological tools shape professional conduct. The research methodology includes corpus-based analysis of 24 legal and political texts, case-based analysis, and scenario-based simulation. The study implemented a two-stage empirical design: a Case-Based Analytical Component grounded on three documented ethical violations analysed through an ethical-linguistic coding matrix, and a Scenario-Based Simulation involving twelve legal translators/interpreters. The study's findings revealed three recurring behavioural patterns: conformist, activist, and hybrid. These decisionpatterns are driven by institutional hierarchy, perceived risk, the use of AI tools, and unclear ethical guidelines. The key risks identified include data leakage, misrepresentation in legal contexts, manipulative language shifts, and the lack of transparency in AI processes. The study proposes an ethical decisionmaking model and emphasizes the need for improved professional training, the creation of secure digital infrastructures, and clearer consultation procedures and whistleblowing protocols in confidential translation/interpreting settings.