Data Sovereignty, Stewardship, and Generative AI in Oral History: A Discussion Paper from the International Digital Oral History Lab

Abstract

This working paper is issued by the International Digital Oral History Lab (https://idohl.org/) as part of its ongoing work on the responsible use of generative AI in oral history. It brings together evidence from oral history practice, AI governance, technical infrastructure, commercial and open source platforms, professional guidance and scholarship. It examines questions of informed consent, confidentiality, shared authority, data and participant sovereignty, and the responsibilities of those who steward oral history interviews. The paper argues that data sovereignty in oral history encompasses more than storage location, privacy or legal compliance. It also concerns who controls interviews, who participates in decisions about their use, and how obligations to interviewees can be maintained within rapidly changing technological environments. This is a discussion paper rather than a definitive policy statement or a systematic review. It documents the Lab’s emerging understanding, identifies tensions and uncertainties, and contributes to discussion about responsible stewardship in an AI-mediated future. Version 1, dated 17 October 2026, was developed by the contributing authors named in the document. The International Digital Oral History Lab maintains the document and coordinates future revisions. Authorship of subsequent versions will be recorded separately.