SSN redaction is the removal of full Social Security numbers from a court filing under FRCP 5.2(a)(1). The rule lets only the last four digits remain. anonym.plus finds every nine-digit value on your device and masks it to that allowed form.
When this applies
A filing may repeat the number across exhibits, captions, and quotes. You must cut each to the last four digits under Rule 5.2(a)(1) before it is filed.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the papers in anonym.plus on your device.
- Local OCR reads scanned pages that print the number.
- The tool flags every full nine-digit value.
- Apply Mask to keep only the last four digits.
- Confirm no full number remains anywhere.
- Save the clean papers locally.
What you need to provide
- The filing and its exhibits (PDF, DOCX, scan).
- The Mask operator set to keep the last four digits.
- Optional batch for many exhibits at once.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | US_SSN | 078-05-1120 → XXX-XX-1120 |
| Identifiers | US_ITIN | taxpayer ID → masked |
| Identifiers | US_PASSPORT | passport no. → masked |
| Names | PERSON | John Mercer → [PARTY] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | DOB 1979 → [DOB] |
| Financial | US_BANK_NUMBER | acct 4412 → [ACCOUNT] |
Compliance achieved
- Meets FRCP 5.2(a)(1): only the last four digits remain.
- Catches taxpayer IDs (ITINs) under the same clause.
- Offline work keeps the numbers off any server.
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Limitations & cautions
A nine-digit value can appear inside a scanned image where OCR misreads a digit. Check the flags on image pages so no full number slips through. The tool masks what it finds; verify the result.
Frequently asked questions
How much of the number may stay under Rule 5.2?
Only the last four digits. anonym.plus uses the Mask operator to keep those four and hide the rest in one pass.
Does it also catch taxpayer ID numbers?
Yes. ITINs and similar taxpayer IDs fall under the same clause and are flagged alongside it.
Can it read numbers printed on exhibit images?
Yes. Local OCR reads the image, then masks the value. Always verify faint scans.