Batch redaction is the removal of personal data from a whole folder of investigation documents in one run. Investigation files are often kept for as long as a claim could still be brought — six years for most simple-contract claims under Limitation Act 1980 s.5, twelve for a claim on a deed under s.8 — so a batch clean-up run has to work across an archive that can span years, not a handful of files. anonym.plus applies UK GDPR Recital 26 anonymisation the same way to each one, with a shared map so one person maps to one alias.
When this applies
A case archive holds hundreds of documents spanning several years of retained files, with the same people named across many. One-by-one work risks drift. A batch run keeps the labels even across the whole set.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Point anonym.plus at the folder on your device.
- It scans each document for names, contacts, and IDs.
- A shared map keeps repeat people steady across the run.
- Review the summary and fix low-confidence flags.
- Save the clean archive on your device.
What you need to provide
- A folder of documents (PDF, DOCX, or mixed).
- The shared label map turned on for steady results.
- An operator (Replace works well for an archive).
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | subject across the set → [SUBJECT_1] |
| Names | PERSON | repeat witness → [WITNESS_1] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | emails → [EMAIL] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | case dates → [DATE] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | staff nos. → [ID_n] |
| Financial | UK_BANK_NUMBER | accounts → [ACCOUNT] |
Compliance achieved
- Applies UK GDPR Recital 26 anonymisation the same way to every item.
- Keeps an archive usable across the retention window Limitation Act 1980 ss.5 and 8 imply for a still-possible claim.
- The shared map keeps results steady across the run.
- On-device AES-256-GCM guards the working data.
- Whole-folder work stays offline — nothing uploaded.
Anonymise investigation files offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
Mixed folders (some scanned, some native) lean on OCR for image scans, so review low-confidence flags from them. A shared map keeps results even, but you must guard that map, since it can re-link the set if kept.
Frequently asked questions
How does batch mode keep one person steady?
A shared map logs each person once, so the same subject or witness maps to the same alias in every document across the folder.
Why does retention length matter for a batch run?
An archive kept for a Limitation Act 1980 retention window — six years for most simple contract claims, twelve for a deed — accumulates far more documents and repeat names than a single case file. Batch mode is what makes de-identifying that scale practical.
Is there a cloud quota on size?
No. Work is local, so speed depends on your hardware, not a cloud plan.