Report on Multilingual Digital Communication and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

H3: Policy on Information Accessibility and Institutional Integrity

In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has established English as the sole authoritative language for all its published web content. This policy ensures a consistent and verifiable standard of communication. However, to advance SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and ensure broader public access to information (SDG Target 16.10), the Department has implemented an automated translation feature as a supplemental aid for diverse linguistic communities.

H3: Implementation Through Public-Private Partnership

The multilingual functionality is executed through a strategic partnership, a principle central to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Department utilizes a third-party tool to achieve this objective.

• Technology Partner: The service is provided by Gtranslate®, a third-party entity.
• Operational Control: The DEP does not own, maintain, modify, or control the Gtranslate® tool.
• Endorsement Status: The use of this tool does not constitute an official endorsement over human-generated translations or other automated services.
• Scope Limitations: The translation service is limited to browser content and does not convert attached or linked files, such as PDFs.

H3: Risk Assessment and Accountability in Information Dissemination

A critical component of maintaining institutional accountability (SDG 16) involves a thorough risk assessment of communication tools. Automated translation presents inherent challenges that could impact the achievement of goals requiring precise public understanding, such as SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. Accuracy Deficiencies: Computer-generated translations are not expected to be perfectly accurate and are not reviewed by the DEP prior to display.
2. Potential for Misinformation: Automated processes could convey incorrect or offensive language, undermining the goal of inclusive communication.
3. Interpretive Inconsistencies: The nuance of complex environmental topics may be lost, leading to interpretive inconsistencies.

H3: User Responsibility and Disclaimer for Goal-Oriented Engagement

To ensure that engagement with environmental content contributes positively to SDGs 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land), users must acknowledge the limitations of the translation tool. The DEP disclaims all liability for issues arising from its use and establishes the following framework for user responsibility:

• Assumption of Risk: Site users assume all risks associated with the use of translated text.
• Disclaimer of Liability: The DEP is not responsible for any loss, damage, or harm resulting from reliance on translated text.
• Implied Agreement: The use of the translation tool signifies the user’s understanding and agreement with this disclaimer and assumption of risk.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article is a disclaimer from a government body, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), regarding public access to information on its website. This directly relates to the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The provision of information and the terms of its accessibility are core components of institutional transparency and public service.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• By offering an automated translation feature, the DEP is attempting to reduce inequalities in access to information for non-English speaking visitors. Although the article highlights the limitations and potential inaccuracies of this feature, the intent is to provide a tool for inclusion for people of different linguistic origins, which is a key aspect of SDG 10.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article explicitly mentions the use of a third-party tool, Gtranslate®, to provide the translation service. This represents a public-private partnership, where a government agency (public sector) utilizes technology from another entity (private/third-party) to achieve a public service goal. The disclaimer also highlights the complexities of such partnerships, particularly regarding control and liability.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

• The entire article revolves around the DEP’s efforts to provide public access to its online content. The implementation of a translation tool is a direct action aimed at broadening this access. The disclaimer itself is a mechanism for the institution to manage this provision of information, outlining the authoritative source (English) and the risks associated with the translated versions.

Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

• The translation feature is a tool for the inclusion of individuals based on linguistic origin. By attempting to make its content understandable to a wider audience, the DEP is taking a step, however imperfect, to promote the inclusion of non-English speakers in accessing environmental information provided by the state.

Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

• The DEP’s use of Gtranslate®, a third-party tool, is a clear example of a public-private partnership to deliver a digital service. The article details how the DEP (a public entity) leverages an external technology that it “is not owned, maintained, modified, or controlled in any way by DEP” to enhance its website’s functionality for the public.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Implied Indicator for Target 16.10: Existence of policies and practices ensuring public access to information.

• The article itself serves as evidence of a practice related to public access to information. While not a formal indicator metric, the presence of a translation feature and an accompanying detailed disclaimer on a government website is a tangible action toward ensuring public access. The disclaimer can be interpreted as part of the DEP’s policy on information dissemination in multiple languages.

Implied Indicator for Target 10.2: Proportion of government services and information available in multiple languages.

• The article implies this indicator by describing the availability of an “automated translation feature for browser content.” The existence of this feature on the DEP website is a data point that could be used to measure the extent to which government information is made accessible to linguistic minorities, thereby tracking progress towards inclusion.

Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: Number and type of public-private partnerships for service delivery.

• The article provides a specific example of such a partnership: the Florida DEP’s use of the Gtranslate® tool. This instance could be counted as one example in a broader measurement of how government agencies partner with external technology providers to achieve their goals.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: floridadep.gov