An open-government release is the file an authority gives in answer to a request. FOIA 2000 exempts certain PII from disclosure, and where the request is for environmental information the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 apply instead: reg. 13 carries an equivalent personal-data exception, and reg. 12(1)(b) requires the public interest in maintaining that exception to be weighed against the public interest in disclosure for every regulation 13 refusal. anonym.plus marks that data on your own device, so the disclosure meets whichever regime applies.
When this applies
A resident requests authority files under FOIA or the EIR. The pages hold home addresses, National Insurance numbers, and minors' names that the rules exempt.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the requested file in anonym.plus on your device.
- The tool flags names, addresses, IDs, and dates.
- Match each flag to the personal-data exemption.
- Black out the exempt PII; leave the open data.
- Review the page so nothing exempt slips through.
- Save the cleared file on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The requested file (PDF, DOCX, TXT, or scan).
- An operator: Redact for the released copy.
- Optional rules to keep officials' titles, not PII.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | resident name → [PERSON] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | QQ 12 34 56 C → [NINO] |
| Location | LOCATION | home address → [ADDRESS] |
| Names | PERSON | minor's name → [MINOR] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | personal mobile → [PHONE] |
| Accounts | UK_BANK | account no. → [ACCOUNT] |
Compliance achieved
- Supports exemptions under FOIA 2000 and the equivalent EIR 2004 reg. 13 exception.
- Prepares the file for the mandatory public-interest weighing in EIR 2004 reg. 12(1)(b) wherever the request is environmental.
- Hides PII the rules exempt while open data stays visible.
- Offline work keeps the source file inside the authority.
- 340+ entity types cover IDs, contacts, and locations.
Anonymise open-government releases offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
FOIA and the EIR differ on what is exempt and on the public-interest test — EIR reg. 12(1)(b) applies a presumption in favour of disclosure that FOIA does not carry in the same form. The tool flags PII; which fields you may withhold is a legal judgment. It cannot read the regime for you. Confirm each call against the right rule.
Frequently asked questions
Do FOIA and the EIR exempt the same data?
Not exactly. FOIA's personal-data exemption sits in s.40; environmental requests instead fall under EIR 2004 reg. 13, and reg. 12(1)(b) then requires a public-interest balance with a built-in presumption toward disclosure that FOIA does not apply the same way. anonym.plus flags candidate PII so you apply the right exemption to the right request.
Can I keep officials' names in the release?
Often yes. A senior official acting in their role is usually disclosable under either regime. Use an allow-list to keep titles while you redact private residents' details.
Is the source ever uploaded?
No. The app runs offline, so the authority file stays on your device during the review, whichever regime the request falls under.