Document redaction for journalists

Protect sources and sensitive details with deterministic redaction — remove text (not just hide it), export irreversible final PDFs, and verify before publishing.

✓ Permanent text removal — not cosmetic masking.
✓ Deterministic rules (no AI guesswork).
✓ Verification report before publication or sharing.

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Important: PermanentRedaction permanently removes text from text-based PDFs. Scanned/image-only PDFs are not supported.

Why teams choose deterministic redaction

Designed to reduce “oops” leaks.

Repeatable patterns for names, emails, phone numbers.

Deterministic approach supports careful editorial review.

Fast workflow for tight deadlines.

Tip: If your workflow requires “black boxes” only, many PDF editors can mask text — but masking is not the same as permanently deleting text.

How it works

A simple workflow designed for professional use: select exactly what must be removed, export an irreversible final PDF, and keep a verification report for internal review.

1) Upload

Upload a text-based PDF. We do not “interpret” content — the document’s text layer is what you see and redact.

2) Redact

Use precise keyword and regex rules (with preview) to target names, IDs, dates, or custom terms.

3) Export

Export a final PDF — text-preserving or image-only — where selected text is removed from the output.

4) Verify

Generate a verification report to support review and reduce mistakes before filing or sharing.

Why PermanentRedaction

Many tools “hide” content with overlays. Others rely on AI interpretation. PermanentRedaction is built for deterministic outcomes: you choose what is removed, and the export is an irreversible final PDF.

Permanent removal

Selected text is deleted from the exported PDF — not merely covered by a box.

Deterministic & reviewable

No “guessing” what is sensitive. Rules are explicit and results are consistent.

Verification report

Generate a report to support internal review and reduce the risk of leaks.

Common use cases

Built for teams who need repeatable redaction across multiple documents — with less risk than manual “cover-up” workflows.

Source protection

Remove names, identifiers, and contact details before publishing.

FOIA document publishing

Redact sensitive identifiers while keeping documents readable.

Whistleblower materials

Apply repeatable redaction patterns across document sets.

Investigative timelines

Redact private information from exhibits and supporting materials.

Public-facing exhibits

Export image-only finals when needed for strict publishing safety.

Editorial review workflows

Use verification reports to support review before release.

Need help choosing an approach? If you’re deciding between masking vs removal, or text-preserving vs image-only exports, see Docs.

FAQ1

Is this safer than adding black boxes?

If the underlying text isn’t removed, it may still leak. PermanentRedaction focuses on removing selected text in the final export.

Do you use AI?

No — deterministic rules reduce surprises in sensitive editorial work.

Can I keep documents searchable?

Yes, with text-preserving exports when appropriate.

Do scanned PDFs work?

Not currently.

Related Industries

Public Records & FOIA

Still have questions? Contact us.