Research interview recordings are personal data under GDPR. They contain participants' voices, opinions, and potentially sensitive information. Incorrect handling can invalidate the project and incur sanctions.
Legal Basis for Recording Research Interviews
In academic research, the usual legal basis under GDPR is public interest (Art. 6.1.e) or explicit consent (Art. 6.1.a). Most university ethics committees require informed consent for recordings.
What consent must include
- What data will be collected (audio/video recording)
- What it will be used for (specific research project)
- Where it will be stored and for how long
- Who will have access to the recordings
- Whether third-party tools (including AI transcription) will be used
- Right to withdraw consent
Critical point: if you use an external transcription tool, participants must know at the time of consent. Add a specific line: "Recordings may be processed by AI transcription tools. Data is encrypted and not retained beyond [X] days."
Requirements for AI Transcription Tools
Before using any transcription tool with research data, verify: Where is data processed (preferably EU)? Is a DPA available? What is the audio data retention policy? Is data used to train AI models?