5 risks of using unvetted crowdsourced translators

The translation industry has been quietly compromised by a model that prioritises cost cutting over data protection: unvetted crowdsourcing.

For years, many Language Service Providers (LSPs) have yielded to market pressure, cutting corners by hiring linguists whose professional credentials and security backgrounds are unverified. 

This pursuit of low cost creates a dangerous illusion. LSPs often 'rebrand' the work, while their client's confidential information is being disclosed to unverified individuals, often in unchecked jurisdictions. Crucially, this exposure is typically not covered by professional indemnity insurance.  

So, before you sign your next translation contract, you must ask: Are you paying for a specialist or a security risk?  

Below are 5 risks of using a non-vetted, crowdsourced translation service.  

1. Zero data security and confidentiality 

When confidential data - be it M&A details, client contract, or employee records - is sent to an unvetted crowd, you have zero control over its security.  

The linguist may not be bound by an established security framework, meaning your sensitive information could be processed on unsecured personal computers, stored in non-compliant clouds, or even passed on to third parties. 

• The risk: A breach of data protection laws and mandates like GDPR, resulting in substantial fines, loss of trust from clients and litigation. 

2. High risk of inconsistency and errors (‘expertise lottery’)  

Unvetted crowdsourcing means you are getting an ‘expertise lottery’. The person translating your maintenance manual on pump dynamics one day might be translating a marketing flyer the next. They lack the specific, specialised degrees, industry credentials, and continuous training necessary to handle complex, domain-specific terminology. 

• The risk: Inconsistency in high-stake documents (like contracts or compliance filings) leads to ambiguity. This can cause project delays, manufacturing errors, or expose your company to litigation and costly hikes in insurance premiums.  

3. Lack of legal accountability 

Who do you hold accountable when a mistranslation costs your company millions? With unvetted crowdsourcing, the answer is often no one. There is no professional liability or Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance backing the individual translator. 

• The risk: You assume all legal and financial liability for translation mistakes. If a safety warning is rendered incorrectly, the financial fallout, legal defense, and reputation damage are entirely on your balance sheet. 

4. Loss of tone, brand voice, and creative intent 

Outsourcing localisation to a crowd that does not have the requisite credentials is transactional, focusing only on the words, not the intent. Creative localisation - the art of making content resonate culturally - requires a professional who understands your brand’s voice, audience and market strategy. 

• The Risk: Your marketing campaign falls flat, the language in your product interface alienates users, or your international communications simply sound inauthentic and amateurish, directly diluting your brand’s global equity. 

5. Inefficient quality assurance (QA) loop 

Without stringent ISO:9001 certified quality management controls, translations created by unvetted crowdsourced linguists can be poor on the first pass. This then requires extensive, costly, and time-consuming internal review by your team.  

You end up paying twice: once for the low-quality translation and again for your specialised staff to fix it. 

• The risk: Delays in critical project timelines, wasted internal resources, and a constant, frustrating cycle of rework that negates the perceived cost savings of the cheap service.

Why Guildhawk: your security award-winning translation specialist

At Guildhawk, for 25 years, we have combined the speed of a crowdsourced model with the quality of our certified, strictly vetted specialists.  

For instance, when handling high-stakes legal projects: 

• 55.95% of our specialists have formal legal qualifications translating legal content. 
• 52.5% are members of an accredited industry body worldwide.

Why Guildhawk vetted translators beat unverified crowdsourcing:

Want the best vetted linguists working for you?

Connect with a Guildhawk expert today. See how our certified linguists and ISO-secure technology de-risk translation and improve your communication.