Imagine this: You’ve poured your heart and soul into a project, meticulously crafting content that’s both valuable and sensitive. You entrust its translation to a language service provider, confident in their ISO certifications and GDPR compliance. But here’s where it gets controversial: what if the weakest link in your security chain isn’t the provider, but the freelance linguist they subcontract to?
This eye-opening scenario was brought to light by Jourik Ciesielski, CTO at Elan Languages, during his presentation at SlatorCon Remote December 2025. Representing the Language Technology Platform (LTP) Crowdin (https://crowdin.com/), Ciesielski shed light on the often-overlooked security vulnerabilities lurking within the language industry’s supply chain.
Ciesielski began on a positive note, acknowledging the strides many companies have made in prioritizing security. ISO 27001 certifications, GDPR compliance measures, VPNs, and two-factor authentication are all commendable steps. “But,” he cautioned, “these measures, while essential, only confirm that security is top of mind. They don’t guarantee it.”
And this is the part most people miss: the language industry’s supply chain is a complex web. A company might invest in a robust platform like Crowdin, but the data then travels through multiple hands—from multi-language vendors to single-language vendors, and finally, to freelance linguists. Each handoff increases the risk of exposure.
“Freelancers, often unaware, carry a massive responsibility,” Ciesielski emphasized. He painted a relatable picture: a linguist sharing a laptop with family members, connecting to public Wi-Fi, or falling victim to phishing attacks. “The risk is extremely high,” he warned.
The core issue? When you outsource translation, you’re indirectly granting access to sensitive information to individuals you’ve never met, who may be unaware of your security protocols. Ciesielski posed a rhetorical question that lingered in the air: “How big is this risk? It’s huge.”
The stakes are too high to ignore. Ciesielski argued that inaction is unacceptable. Security must be baked into every process and technology used in language services. And let’s face it, the industry relies on a dizzying array of tools and platforms.
So, what’s the solution? Ciesielski pointed to Crowdin’s approach: a zero-trust policy. No reliance on promises or agreements—only technical controls. This means enforcing Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) for managers, verifying devices via email, and mandating two-factor authentication through authorization apps.
But even these measures aren’t foolproof. Ciesielski suggested going further: automating the deactivation of inactive accounts, setting expiration dates for API tokens, and configuring idle session timeouts. Biometric two-factor authentication is also on the horizon.
“The risk of not implementing these features is simply too high,” Ciesielski concluded, urging the SlatorCon audience to reevaluate their supply chain’s security.
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: In an industry built on trust and collaboration, is a zero-trust policy the only way forward? Or does it risk undermining the very relationships that make language services thrive? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation about securing the future of translation.
