Redaction
Technical
The permanent removal of sensitive elements from a document or data set, leaving placeholders or blank space. Distinct from masking in that the underlying value is not preserved.
See also
- MaskingConcealing parts of a data value with a fixed character pattern( e.g., showing "*--1234" for an SSN).
- ReplaceA de-identification method that swaps each detected entity with a numbered placeholder such as <<PERSON1>> or <<SSN3>>, often paired with a legend that can re-identify the original values.
- HighlightA non-destructive review mode in PII detection tools that overlays a colored marker on every detected sensitive entity without altering the underlying document.
- De-identificationA process that removes or transforms identifiers so that data cannot reasonably be linked to a specific individual.
- What Does Redacted Mean?Redacted means sensitive information has been removed or obscured from a document before it's shared. Plain-English definition, real examples (Mueller report, FOIA, court filings), and how proper redaction is done.
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