Online transcription services, especially those using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, can save researchers time and money. However, online platforms increase the risk of a data breach and have privacy risks which researchers need to be aware of in order to protect research participants and comply with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2022). MREB classifies data as either low-, medium-, or high-risk. For more detail, see the McMaster Research Ethics Board (MREB) Data Storage and Security Tools, especially the Research Data Management Risk Matrix. Key Considerations for Data Privacy, Security, & Compliance is a good overview of considerations for online services.

In general, online transcription services should only be used for low– and medium-risk data. Offline transcription or professional human transcription with confidentiality agreements should be used for high-risk data and researchers should be personally transcribing in the highest risk situations. Researchers are required to follow McMaster’s Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Research; including critically evaluating and personally verifying outputs, as well as making your use of AI tools transparent and reproducible.