The Digital Rescue Operation of the Estonian Language: How AI Learns Our Mother Tongue
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Head of Data Law and Policy at the Institute of the Estonian Language; Junior Research Fellow at the University of Tartu
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Head of the Language Technology Department at the Institute of the Estonian Language
The article argues that the future of Estonian depends not only on everyday use but also on its presence in digital technologies. AI, translation tools, speech systems, and other applications need broad, diverse, and up-to-date language data.
The main problem is that the use of such data is often hindered by legal uncertainty, especially around copyright and data protection. The authors propose a clearer legal framework that distinguishes AI training from AI use and supports research while protecting rights holders. They also argue that curated language data should be treated as a strategic national resource, or even as a digital language archive. The wider message is that Estonia has a constitutional duty to ensure the survival and development of Estonian in the digital age.