Capture of on record/off record captions in RTC

[RealJoshue108]

From @JaninaSajka on RQTF list https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-rqtf/2020May/0028.html

On record vs. off record conversations.

• People have always done things like that on W3C calls; and side conversations are standard human behavior. But how to serve the person who’s deaf or hearing impaired?

• There are likely some legal constraints that we will have to clearly note and say “we don’t do that, we just do technology.”

• I imagine the a11y requirement is some kind of host operable toggle in the captioning service (whether human or automated) that facilitates going on and off record for the preserved transcript, but continues to provide captions meanwhile.

• And, the above toggle can be defeated by any participant performing a screen capture. So, does that mean there’s no such thing as off record conversation when captioning is made available?

OK. I wanted to make sure this got to our consideration.

[RealJoshue108]

From @sehollier https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-rqtf/2020May/0028.html

I’ve been giving some thought to this and I’m not sure that there’s an issue of on-the-record and off-the-record beyond the audio equivalent.

Here’s my thinking:
If there’s a teleconference, there is an expectation that the audio will not be recorded unless it’s specifically agreed to. Likewise the captions provided would not be recorded, i.e. not saved as a transcript or screen captured, unless previously agreed to.
If there is agreement of the audio to be recorded, discussion would be on the record. Likewise the saving of captions would be on the record.
If someone wants to discuss something off-the-record, either the audio or captions would be suspended for that portion of the meeting. Once back on the record, audio and captions would be saved. I don’t see there’d be a need to stop the captions, as the audio equivalent would not stop, it just wouldn’t’ be recorded.

So I think the solution to toggle between on- and off-the-record conversations is not about the presence or removal of captions, but to make sure that the toggle between saving recordings also applies to the saving of captions, i.e.. a mechanism that both audio and captions can be paused or stopped, and both can be simultaneously restored for recording. If there are formal minutes taken for a meeting that’s on-the-record, then neither the audio or captions would be saved so no issue there.

There is always the risk of someone taking a screen capture as you say, but I’d say it’s the similar risk of someone recording a snippet of audio

That’s my two cents anyway!

[RealJoshue108]

From @JaninaSajka https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-rqtf/2020May/0029.html

Hi, Scott:
I think you're correct. But we need to acknowledge that captions need to
continue even for off the record conversations. And, that enables anyone
on the call to screenshot those.

I suppose it's not that different from recording, though. Nothing
prevents an ill intentioned person from recording the phone call
surreptitiously.

So, I guess I come around to your view. We simply tie the recording of
audio and captioning to the same mechanism that can be toggled on and
off, and we're finished.

Janina

[RealJoshue108]

Discussed in RQTF on 22/6/2020 https://www.w3.org/2020/07/22-rqtf-minutes.html#item01

[RealJoshue108]

[New Use Case]: Being able to 'Pause' recording so side conversations are private.