“In legal contexts, translation does not merely convey information; it can shape the operative force of a document. If a machine translation changes the scope of a clause, weakens a condition, or substitutes a general term for a legally defined one, the translated text may carry a different normative effect from the source text.
This problem is especially serious in legally binding texts such as contracts, regulations, and judgments, where the translated version may be relied upon for legal interpretation or enforcement.
Machine learning systems are not inherently aware of these consequences, because they optimise for probabilistic plausibility rather than legal equivalence. accuracy is inseparable from the goal of achieving an equivalent, uniform legal effect. Unlike general or literary translation, legal translation operates within tightly constrained systems of meaning shaped by jurisdiction-specific norms, institutional practices, and codified terminology.
A mistranslation in this domain is not merely a semantic error; it can alter rights, obligations, and legal outcomes, potentially leading to financial loss, contractual disputes, or miscarriages of justice.”
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Pinčić, Domagoj & Bajcic, Martina. (2026). Challenges of the Legal Translation Task in the Context of Machine Learning. 10.5281/zenodo.22765851.
