Applicant pool batch anonymisation is the removal of personal data from many submissions in one run. Equality Act 2010 s.39(1) governs the arrangements an employer makes across every file, not just one, and s.19 catches a criterion that disadvantages one group consistently across the batch even if no single decision looks discriminatory on its own. anonym.plus processes up to 20 files at a time on your device, with a shared map so one person maps to one alias.
When this applies
A vacancy can draw dozens of submissions that all need the same blind treatment for the s.39 arrangements to hold up consistently. One-by-one work risks drift, which is exactly the kind of inconsistency that can turn into an s.19 pattern, so one steady run applies the same rule throughout.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Point anonym.plus at the pool folder on your machine.
- It scans each submission for names and bias cues.
- Built-in OCR reads any scanned pages in the set.
- A shared map keeps each person steady across files.
- Review the summary and fix low-confidence markings.
- Keep the map ON for blind review, or OFF for anonymity.
What you need to provide
- A folder of submissions (PDF, DOCX, mixed).
- The shared alias map, ON for re-link or OFF for anonymity.
- An operator (Replace works well for a pool).
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | person across files → [CANDIDATE_1] |
| Origin | NRP | origin cues → [ORIGIN] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | emails → [EMAIL] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | phones → [PHONE] |
| Location | LOCATION | postcodes → [ADDRESS] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | graduation years → [DATE] |
Compliance achieved
- Applies Equality Act 2010 s.39(1) arrangements consistently across every file in the batch.
- Reduces the indirect-discrimination risk in s.19 that drift between files can create across the whole run.
- The shared map keeps results steady file to file.
- Whole-folder work stays offline — nothing is uploaded.
Anonymise applicant pools offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
A mixed folder of scans and native files leans on OCR for images, so review low-confidence markings. Keeping the map on allows re-linking; turn it off when you need true anonymity for the whole set.
Frequently asked questions
Why does consistency across a batch matter for the Equality Act?
Equality Act 2010 s.19 looks at a pattern, not just one decision, so treating some CVs in the same batch differently from others, even by accident, can create the kind of disparate impact the section targets.
How does batch mode keep one person steady?
A shared map logs each person once, so the same applicant maps to the same alias in every file across the folder, keeping the s.39 arrangements consistent for that person throughout the process.
Can I re-link the whole group after review?
Yes, if the map stays on. Turn it off when the whole set must be truly anonymous, for example once every candidate in the group has been notified of the outcome.