By ensuring its not shared without ethical considerations.

When working with international linguistic researchers, I prioritize simple but effective methods to keep data private. First, I create agreements with clear rules about how data will be shared and used, ensuring everyone follows the same standards. I also use password-protected files and limit access to only those who truly need it. Instead of emailing sensitive data, I share it through secure platforms designed for research collaboration. Finally, I regularly check with the team to make sure everyone is following privacy practices and update our methods if better tools or rules become available.

In strictly linguistic research in which ethnographic data are not so relevant -although they almost always are- anonymize the data with well-constructed labels from the corpus data collection. For ethnic or language rescue research, where the identity of the informants (whether as a small, easily traceable collective or as individuals) may be important to reveal, this must be done with written (or oral, videorecorded) informed consent and a commitment to the scope and use of the data collected.

Both linguistic and cultural issues must be taken into account. Language is the first step to understanding others, but there are also cultural aspects to law and privacy. Some cultures prefer to be more direct, while others prefer to be more indirect. Taking time to understand how others think and relate to others is the beginning of creating meaningful dialogue about data privacy issues (and any other issue for that matter).

One of the biggest things I’ve found that helps improve privacy and protect information is being fully educated and aware of the channels used for communication. Especially with sensitive information, making sure your partners/collaborators are also informed about the risks and status of different platforms, and their intended uses and functions. It may also be of benefit to set a standard, especially in the form of disclosure agreements, in written form between all involved parties to ensure that when questions or complications arise there is always a mutually-decided resource to fall back on.