# DeepL Translator

| **DeepL Translator** | **Quick Overview**                                                                                                                                                                              |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| URL                  | <https://www.deepl.com/en/translator>                                                                                                                                                           |
| What it does         | DeepL Translator translates text, documents, and web content between multiple languages using AI.                                                                                               |
| How to use it        | Paste or type text into the translation box on the website. Choose the language you want to translate from and the language you want to translate into - the translation will appear instantly. |
| Cost                 | Partially free - basic translation is free, while advanced features require a paid subscription.                                                                                                |
| Account required     | No for basic translations. Yes for premium features and higher usage limits.                                                                                                                    |
| Cookies              | The website uses cookies to support website functionality, remember preferences, and analyse usage.                                                                                             |
| Ownership            | DeepL GmbH, a technology company based in Germany.                                                                                                                                              |
| Use in Reporting     | Helps journalists and investigators understand foreign-language material such as social media posts, websites, documents, or interviews.                                                        |

### **What does DeepL Translator do?**&#x20;

DeepL Translator converts text from one language into another using advanced artificial intelligence. It can translate short pieces of text, long passages, or entire documents.

It supports many major languages and is known for high-quality, context-aware translations, meaning the translated text often reads more naturally.

**The lowdown:** DeepL is widely considered one of the most accurate online translation tools available. However, like all automated translation tools, it can still make mistakes, especially with slang, cultural references, or very technical language, so should always be double-checked.

### How to Use:

**1. Go to the DeepL website and paste the text you want to translate into the left-hand text box.**

**2. Select the language you want to translate into. (DeepL can often automatically detect the original language.)**&#x20;

*In the below (very basic!) example, we typed ‘Hallo’ into the left-hand text box which automatically detected German and translated into British English as selected.*

<figure><img src="https://2429831402-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F3YeRsjw1gI6xxIP4cuOd%2Fuploads%2FNT7LyuG2oSUrkZSNC9KL%2Funknown.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3183bbbd-e1b9-4f2c-a8a9-fc9974637695" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**3. Read or copy the translated text that appears in the right-hand box. You can also download translated documents if using the document translation feature.**

### Cost:

* [ ] Paid
* [x] Partially Free
* [ ] Free

Basic translation is free but there are limits on usage and document size.

## Data Processing

### Account required:

* [x] Yes
* [x] No

No account is required for basic translation. An account is required for paid features or higher usage limits.

### Cookies:&#x20;

DeepL uses cookies to support essential website functions, remember user preferences (such as language settings), manage sessions, and collect analytics data.

### &#x20;Use in Reporting

DeepL can support investigations in several ways:

* Translating foreign-language social media posts.
* Understanding international news articles.
* Translating leaked documents or reports.
* Analysing online forums in different languages.
* Translating witness statements or interviews.

| **Capabilities**                                   | **Limitations**                                             |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Translates text between many languages.            | Translations may not always capture context or slang.       |
| Automatically detects source language.             | Errors can occur with technical language/specialised terms. |
| Translates full documents (PDF, Word, PowerPoint). | Some languages are not supported.                           |
| Suggests alternative wording for translations.     | The free version has usage limits.                          |
| Produces natural-sounding translations.            | <p><br></p>                                                 |
| Translates large amounts of text quickly.          | <p><br></p>                                                 |

### Summary

DeepL Translator is a powerful and easy-to-use translation tool, often more natural and accurate than many other free tools. While it is very useful for analysing foreign-language content, translations should always be double-checked when accuracy is critical.

### Ownership

DeepL Translator is developed and operated by DeepL GmbH, a technology company based in Cologne, Germany. It was founded by Dr. Jaroslaw "Jarek" Kutyłowski, a computer scientist who was born in Poland and is now based in Germany.

### Ethical Considerations:

* Be careful when uploading sensitive or confidential information.
* Understand that automated translations may contain errors.
* Always verify important translations with a native speaker or additional sources if accuracy is critical.
* Use translated information responsibly and within legal and ethical boundaries.

### Related Tools:

* Google Translate
* Microsoft Translator
* Yandex Translate<br>

#### Sources:

<https://www.deepl.com/en>&#x20;

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepL_Translator>&#x20;

<https://medium.com/@loyalonlytoday/translation-tools-for-osint-investigators-a6df5c4a68f8>&#x20;

[https://www.raconteur.net/technology/deepl-ceo-jarek-kutylowski-ai-translation#:\~:text=%E2%80%9CLanguage%20poses%20a%20really%20tough,especially%20those%20that%20are%20global](https://www.raconteur.net/technology/deepl-ceo-jarek-kutylowski-ai-translation)&#x20;
