Explainer
Pseudonymization vs redaction.
Both protect a document. One stays reversible, one does not. Picking the right one avoids two common mistakes.
Pseudonymization
Each item becomes a believable stand-in. A name turns into another name, an address into a plausible address. The text stays natural, so an AI still reads a document that makes sense. It is reversible. The mapping back to your real data lives in the AES-256-GCM vault, unlocked with your passphrase, on your machine.
Redaction
A real black bar. In Anoni the masked text is removed from the PDF, not just covered. There is nothing underneath the bar to recover. It is final. Once a document is redacted, there is nothing to decode.
When to pick which
One rule. If you need your real data back later, pseudonymize. If the file goes to a third party and must never reveal the data, redact.
The GDPR note
Pseudonymized data is still personal data under the GDPR, because it is reversible. It lowers your risk without making the data anonymous. Redaction removes the data, so there is nothing left to expose.
A reminder on limits
Automatic detection helps. It does not replace a read-through. On a sensitive document, check the result before you share it. The tool helps. It does not decide for you.
Want the full round-trip? Read anonymize before AI. See how lawyers use it on the lawyers page, or download Anoni to try it.