Dear Margaret Winker,
Thank you for sharing the summary of the article "When Protecting Privacy Means Protecting Health: Foreseeable Health Harms of AI Language Translation and Interpretation Technologies for Immigrant Patients.". The NEJM AI Perspective highlights risks that are closely tied to how AI translation systems are designed, particularly the conversion of conversational content into stored, reusable data. TelkoTalk, developed by Klughammer GmbH, Germany is a privacy-preserving, audio-to-audio real-time translation system designed specifically for sensitive communication contexts such as healthcare, social services, and humanitarian work. It enables multilingual communication without generating centrally stored transcripts, treating language primarily as a transient signal rather than as reusable data.
Unlike many AI translation tools, TelkoTalk does not create or retain centrally accessible text records. Audio may be transcribed for documentation purposes, but any such transcription is stored only locally on the user’s device. Where cloud processing is required, TelkoTalk uses EU-based cloud servers and operates fully under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Conversational content is not transmitted to non-EU jurisdictions, nor is it aggregated, reused, or repurposed beyond the immediate communication context. This directly addresses the concern raised in the article that contextual disclosures about health, housing, work, or legal status can become portable information with downstream social or legal consequences.
This design is relevant not only in clinical settings but also when individuals independently use AI tools to translate medical information. Without appropriate safeguards, such use can unintentionally compromise medical privacy. TelkoTalk minimizes this risk by default through strict data minimization, local-only storage, EU-based cloud processing, and the absence of centralized content retention.
The article’s framing of confidentiality as a preventive clinical intervention is reflected in TelkoTalk’s architecture. By prioritizing privacy by design rather than relying on post hoc safeguards, TelkoTalk demonstrates that AI-enabled language access can support equity without amplifying the vulnerabilities the NEJM AI authors rightly caution against.
Best
Anna
Anna E. Schmaus-Klughammer (LLB hons)
Vorstand / President
Former Member of the Scientific Staff - Hochschule Deggendorf
One World Medical Network e.V.
Ulrichsbergerstrasse 17
94469 Deggendorf
Germany
E-Mail schmaus@owmn.org
Phone 0171 4329606
Web www.owmn.org
One World Medical Network e.V.
Bank: Sparkasse Deggendorf, Germany
IBAN: DE43 7415 0000 0420 2385 52
BIC: BYLADEM1DEG4
HIFA profile: Anna E Schmaus-Klughammer is president of the association "One World Medical Network". The goal of the association is to improve medical care in LMICs (Low and Middle Income Countries).Our activities start from building primary and specialized health care facilities and continue to organize national cancer screening with connections to national and international expert doctors using telemedicine networks. Training of medical personnel is also an important part of the work of the association. One World Medical Network e.V., Ulrichsbergerstrasse 17, Deggendorf in Germany. info@owmn.org www.owmn.org