How to redact personal data from a report pdf before public release
- Step 1Upload the report PDF — Drop the pre-publication report into the redactor tool.
- Step 2Run a full PII scan — Enable all personal data categories for detection.
- Step 3Review each flagged item — Confirm redactions and add manual boxes for any missed items.
- Step 4Download the release version — Save the redacted report for publication or FOI response.
Frequently asked questions
Will the redaction remove names that appear in the report's own text?+
Proper-noun name detection attempts to identify personal names. Review each flagged item to avoid accidentally redacting company or place names.
Can I preserve anonymised references like 'Respondent A'?+
Yes — only the actual personal data is redacted. Anonymised codes added to the document beforehand remain untouched.
What redaction colour is used?+
Standard black-box redaction is applied. Ensure the redaction covers the full text area — zoom in to verify coverage before finalising.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.