Remove PII from PDF Files — AI-Powered Detection
Manual PII removal is slow, error-prone, and expensive. A single missed name in a long document can undermine a DSAR response or training dataset release. On Pro and Team, AI-powered detection surfaces candidate personal data automatically. The free tier is a capable manual redaction tool. You review suggestions, redact in bulk, and export a clean PDF when you are ready.
What we mean by PII here
GDPR uses the term personal data, which is often broader than colloquial "PII." For redaction workflows, Ghost focuses on direct identifiers and common quasi-identifiers that appear in PDFs:
- Full names and partial names in context
- Home and work addresses
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- National insurance, passport, and national ID numbers
- Dates of birth
- Custom terms you add (project codes, internal IDs)
Why encryption matters
When you use a cloud redaction or "AI PDF" service, GDPR still treats that as processing by a third party: contracts, transfers, and ROPA entries follow. Ghost is designed with data minimisation as a first-class control. See our security page for how document processing works, and pair it with your DPIA and processor agreements like any other subprocessor.
Workflow: detect, review, export
Load the PDF. On Pro and Team, review AI suggestions page by page and toggle redactions — on the free tier, mark regions manually. Zoom into dense tables and scans. When satisfied, download a flattened PDF from your browser suitable for disclosure or archival. Always spot-check the export (copy-paste test) before external release — no tool replaces final human verification for high-stakes packs.
Try without an account
Demo mode includes a limited number of documents so you can validate quality on your own templates. See pricing for Pro limits and team features.