Mediation record redaction is the removal of personal data from a conflict-resolution note, guided by UK GDPR Recital 26. Mediation sits outside the formal route the ACAS Code governs, and a note taken to settle a dispute was not collected to become training material — purpose limitation under Art. 5(1)(b) is the live question. anonym.plus marks names and contacts on your device.
When this applies
A mediation note names both parties, the mediator, and what was said. You strip those identifiers before the record is used for learning.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the note in anonym.plus on your device.
- The app marks both parties and the mediator.
- Built-in OCR reads scanned session minutes.
- Turn the alias map OFF for true anonymity.
- Swap or black out the confirmed identifiers.
- Save the clean copy locally.
What you need to provide
- The mediation note (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Redact for shared learning).
- Alias map turned OFF for true anonymisation.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | party one → [PARTY_1] |
| Names | PERSON | the mediator → [MEDIATOR] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | p1@example.co.uk → [EMAIL] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | session 2 June → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | room 4B → [LOCATION] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | QQ 12 34 56 C → [NINO] |
Compliance achieved
- Targets the anonymity bar in UK GDPR Recital 26, tested with the ICO's motivated-intruder approach.
- Holds the line on purpose limitation under UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(b): a note taken to settle a dispute is not a training asset until it is de-identified.
- Where you rely on UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(f), de-identifying is the measure that makes the legitimate-interests balancing survivable.
- Keeps mediation distinct from the formal route the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures governs, without losing the learning.
- Deliberately re-identifying the shared note is an offence under DPA 2018 s.171; the run itself stays offline.
Anonymise conflict mediation records offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
Recital 26 treats data as anonymous only if no one can be singled out under the motivated-intruder test, and a single remark in a small team can still point to a party. Redaction does not create confidentiality where the parties did not agree it, and it does not make a without-prejudice conversation privileged. Review the note before you circulate it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a mediation note truly anonymous?
Turn the reversible alias map OFF and use Redact. Then check that no unique remark singles out a party, as Recital 26 requires.
Can I reuse a mediation note for training?
Only once it is genuinely de-identified. UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(b) limits reuse to purposes compatible with the original one — anonymised material falls outside the rules, pseudonymised material does not.
Is the note uploaded?
No. The app runs locally, so session detail never reaches a cloud server.