Anonymizing a consent form is the removal of data that names a study participant. GDPR Art. 89 covers research safeguards. anonym.plus runs on your device, so the consent language stays while the participant is hidden.
When this applies
An ethics board audits how consent was gathered. The forms name participants, a witness, and a site, which must be stripped before the audit copy.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the form in anonym.plus on your device.
- Local OCR reads scanned signatures and print.
- It flags participant and witness names plus the site.
- Review each flag and keep the consent wording.
- Replace each value with a label, or redact it.
- Save the clean form. The source stays local.
What you need to provide
- The consent file (PDF, DOCX, TXT, or scan).
- An operator: Replace, Redact, or Mask.
- Optional: a key map for re-linking.
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Participant | PERSON | Lea Vogt → [PARTICIPANT_1] |
| Witness | PERSON | witness Bjorn → [WITNESS_1] |
| Study site | ORGANIZATION | Site Munich → [SITE] |
| Sign date | DATE_TIME | Signed 05/27/2026 → [DATE] |
| EMAIL_ADDRESS | lea.vogt@uni.de → [EMAIL] | |
| National ID | NATIONAL_ID | DE 311 905 → [ID] |
Compliance achieved
- Removes identifiers under GDPR Art. 89 research safeguards.
- Once anonymized, the file falls outside GDPR under Recital 26.
- Runs offline, so no cross-border transfer occurs.
- Forms are sealed with AES-256-GCM.
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Limitations & cautions
A signed form carries a handwritten name and date. The tool flags typed and OCR-read text. You still verify that no inked signature image slips through before you share the audit copy.
Frequently asked questions
Why anonymize signed consent?
An audit may need the form's structure, not who signed it. Removing names and dates lets a board review the process without exposing participants.
Are witnesses removed?
Yes. A named witness is an identifier. The tool flags them so the participant cannot be traced through who co-signed.
Does data cross a border?
No. The app runs locally, so no transfer to a third country takes place.