Translating a privacy policy
The GDPR does not use the word "translation", it uses the words "clear", "comprehensible" and "easily accessible". For a user who does not read French, it amounts to the same thing.
How much it costs
For a document of this type, approximately 2,500 words (7 pages), into one language:
Understand the document, internal use.
Ready to share, by the legal specialist.
Cross-reviewed. For what commits you.
For comparison, a translation agency charges between €300 and €500 for this same document, in five to ten working days. VAT not applicable — article 293 B of the French General Tax Code (CGI) Original layout included. Exact quote displayed before payment, after file upload.
The requirement of article 12
Article 12 of the European regulation requires that information be provided in a concise, transparent, intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language. The WP260 guidelines on transparency, adopted by the EDPB, specify that this information must be provided in the language of the people being targeted.
A website that sells in several European countries with a privacy policy only in French poorly fulfils this obligation, and the breach can be identified in thirty seconds.
The terms that must remain accurate
Data controller, processor, legal basis, legitimate interest, right to object, right to data portability: the GDPR has its own vocabulary, identical in all official languages of the Union since the regulation is officially translated into them. The correct translation is the one that uses the terms from the regulation in the target language, not one that paraphrases them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I also translate my legal notices and cookies?
Same logic: any information intended for the user must be comprehensible to them. In practice, businesses translate the entire legal block at once — it is also cheaper thanks to the multilingual discount.
Is the official GDPR translation used?
The vocabulary of the regulation officially exists in the 24 languages of the Union, and it is this terminology that must be used. The legal specialist knows it.
The specialist handling it
This type of document is assigned to the legal specialist. See how it works.
Further reading
Going further
How much does a professional translation cost?
Per-word rates, minimum order values, language supplements, layout: how translation pricing is calculated, and why the range runs from 0.46 cents to 20 cents per word.
Test it on your document, free of charge
An extract from your file translated by the chosen specialist, before any payment. You assess, then you decide.