redacting
Obscuring sensitive text
Redacting is the act of editing a document to remove or obscure sensitive information before release.
Government agencies redact classified material; lawyers redact privileged communications.
The removed portions typically appear as black bars or blank spaces: The FBI released the memo with several paragraphs redacted.
The word has gained currency as document leaks and freedom-of-information requests have become routine news.
Removing objectionable content
- blacking outSudden loss of consciousness
- obscuringMaking less visible
- concealingKeeping something secret
- withholdingKeeping from another
suppressing · expunging · striking · removing · sanitizing · classified · confidential · privileged
Refining content for clarity
- revisingAltering to improve
- striking throughLinearly canceling written text
- deletingRemoving from existence
- excisingCutting something out
cutting · omitting · removing · correcting · amending · blue pencil · manuscript · draft
Restricted from disclosure
- top secretHighest classification level
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
national security · declassified · CIA · NSA · FBI · government · surveillance · espionage
Removing identifying information
- maskingConcealing by covering
- personal informationIdentifying details about someone
- GDPREU data protection law
- HIPAAMedical privacy statute
PII · data protection · social security number · names · addresses · identifiers · consent · compliance
Programs directing computer operations
- PDFFixed-layout document format
- AdobeMajor graphics software maker
- toolDevice for a task
- markupAdded percentage for profit
annotation · OCR · metadata · permanent · searchable · highlight · cover · pixelating
censoring
Removing objectionable content
- blacking outSudden loss of consciousness
- obscuringMaking less visible
- concealingKeeping something secret
withholding · suppressing · expunging · striking · removing · sanitizing · classified · confidential · privileged · FOIA
editing
Refining content for clarity
- revisingAltering to improve
- striking throughLinearly canceling written text
- deletingRemoving from existence
excising · cutting · omitting · removing · correcting · amending · blue pencil · manuscript · draft · proofing
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- top secretHighest classification level
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
sensitive · national security · declassified · CIA · NSA · FBI · government · surveillance · espionage · leaked
anonymizing
Removing identifying information
- maskingConcealing by covering
- personal informationIdentifying details about someone
- GDPREU data protection law
HIPAA · PII · data protection · social security number · names · addresses · identifiers · consent · compliance · scrubbing
software
Programs directing computer operations
markup · annotation · OCR · metadata · permanent · searchable · highlight · cover · pixelating · blurring
- cutting outtrimming, clipping, cropping, pruning, snipping
- self-censorshipfiltering, holding back, self-policing, restraint, editing
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- paperworkinvoice, permit, documents, license, filing
- removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase
- silencingsilencing, muting, hushing, shushing, quieting
redactingrevealing
Making known what's hidden
disclosing · uncovering · exposing · declassifying · unveiling
redactingrestoring
Returning to original condition
inserting · adding · including · reinstating · uncensoring
redactingreleasing
Allowing to escape
leaking · opening up · broadcasting · transparency · disseminating
- redaction criticismStudy of textual editing processes