Signature-page redaction is the removal of signatory and notary PII from an execution block. An e-signed file also carries certificate data under eIDAS (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014), and the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) gives such marks legal effect. anonym.plus flags the visible names; the embedded record needs its own step.
When this applies
These blocks carry signatures, printed names, titles, and notary stamps. An e-signed file adds an eIDAS or ESIGN certificate that names the signer inside the document rather than on the page. You clear the block, then check the file's own metadata.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the file into anonym.plus on your device.
- Local OCR reads scanned signatures and stamps.
- The tool flags printed names, titles, and notary lines.
- Confirm the flags and keep the block layout.
- Black out the signatures and swap the printed IDs.
- Save the clean copy on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The execution block (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Redact for signatures, Replace for names).
- Optional role map for [SIGNATORY] labels.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | printed name → [SIGNATORY] |
| Title | ORGANIZATION | title/role → [TITLE] |
| Names | PERSON | witness → [WITNESS] |
| Names | PERSON | notary → [NOTARY] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | execution date → [DATE] |
| Identifiers | NATIONAL_ID | notary seal no. → [ID] |
Compliance achieved
- Clears printed names, titles, witnesses, and notary seal numbers.
- Reads scanned stamps and signature lines with local OCR.
- A hand-signed mark is not biometric data under GDPR Art. 4(14) unless processed to identify.
- On-device AES-256-GCM guards the working files.
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Limitations & cautions
An e-signature made under <strong>eIDAS</strong> or the ESIGN Act stores the signer's identity in a certificate, not in the page text. Clearing the block does not remove that record. Export a flattened copy, then check the metadata yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Does redacting the block remove an e-signature record?
No. Under eIDAS and the ESIGN Act the identity sits in an embedded certificate. Flatten or re-export the file, then check its metadata before you share.
Is a handwritten signature biometric data?
Not on its own. Art. 4(14) needs specific technical processing that uniquely identifies someone. A scanned mark is still personal data, so it is flagged either way.
Are notary and witness details removed?
Yes. The notary, witness, and seal number are PII and are flagged together.