Consent Form Template
A consent form is how a contributor agrees, on the record, to take part. Adapt this template to your project and to the law of every country your contributors are in (see Data Governance). The goal is genuine understanding, not just a signature.
When to use this template
Use it before any data is collected from people, whether recordings, photographs, translations, or annotations. Consent gathered after the fact is rarely valid.
What this form covers
What the project is, what the person is agreeing to, how their data will be used and stored, their rights, and their agreement.
Part 1. Project information
- Project name:
[name] - Run by:
[organisation / community] - Contact:
[name, email, phone] - Purpose, in plain language:
[what the data is for]
Part 2. What you are agreeing to
- I agree to provide:
[recordings / photos / translations / annotations]. - I understand my contribution may be used to build and train language technology.
- Whether my data will be public:
[public / restricted / private].
Part 3. Data use and storage
- My data will be used for
[uses], and not for[excluded uses, e.g. surveillance]. - It will be stored
[where, how long, who has access]. - It will be shared under
[licence].
Part 4. Your rights
- I may decline any item, take a break, or stop at any time without penalty.
- I may withdraw my data before publication by contacting
[contact]. - Compensation:
[amount and method, e.g. mobile money].
Part 5. Signature
- Name:
[name]Date:[date]Signature or mark:[___]
Adapting for low-literacy contexts
Read the form aloud in the contributor's language, use simple wording and, where helpful, pictures, and allow a trusted witness to confirm understanding. A thumbprint or mark with a witness signature is valid where a written signature is not possible.
Adapting for oral or audio consent
Where written consent is impractical, record spoken consent: read the key points aloud and record the person confirming, in their own language, that they understand and agree. Store the consent recording with the same care as the data, and link it to the contribution.
