User:Joeaustin

Electronic redaction is the removal of content from a document. This means the content is not available for view, print, search or copy and cannot be retrieved in any way. Electronic redaction can be manual or automatic. Manual programs are best for handling a small number of documents and validating batch redaction while automatic programs can make redaction of hundreds of documents effortless.

Advantages of Electronic Redaction Key advantages of electronic redaction include:

•	The redacted information, subject to the protection of legal privileges or a protective order issued by the court, is protected from disclosure. •	The bulk of the redaction is handled automatically, so only visual verification is required. •	Files can remain in electronic format, making electronic filing more efficient. •	The integrity of the source file is maintained with metadata intact. •	The new, redacted file has no metadata, so there is no concern about unintended disclosure by unseen text or document properties.

Automated redaction offers an excellent “first pass” approach that can save time and help reduce liability. An electronic redaction server can review an entire directory tree for a list of search terms or even text patterns (e.g., XXX-XX-XXXX pattern for social security numbers). Ideally the server should create a redacted rendition of the file in a neutral format (e.g., TIFF or PDF) and place it in a designated directory. This leaves the source file in its pristine form. The redacted file is in a new location, making it less likely that the source file might accidentally be produced.

Manual, desktop redaction programs are useful when validating the automated redaction. If any additional redaction areas are needed, a box can be drawn around the area to apply a redaction. A manual redaction program should still save a copy of the source file, transferring no metadata.

Drivers of Electronic Redaction Based on the United States Constitution, and more specifically the First Amendment, our government has maintained a policy of open public records. In the past, accessing this information was limited by requiring a physical visit to the document’s county of origin. The requestor was then responsible for manually searching tens, hundreds, possibly thousands of documents to find the needed information. Such a tedious task resulted in a very inefficient method for extracting sensitive and personally identifiable information.

Over the last decade, increasingly more data is being stored, even originated, electronically. Government documents, such as property and tax records, motor vehicle information, court filings, military discharges and death certificates, are moving to the Internet in a simple, searchable format. Even health/medical records, financial statements and insurance information, once locked away in company storage facilities with limited employee access, are being kept electronically on corporate servers. This makes the sensitive information available to dishonest employees and computer hackers.

Corporate accounting scandals and high profile law suits have resulted in new government regulations on how much information must be publicly available, and more specifically, available online. Such regulations include: •	Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) •	Openness in Government Act of 2005 •	Privacy Act •	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) •	Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Financial and Accounting Disclosure Information •	Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 for Financial Services Modernization •	Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)

Posting sensitive information in public arenas, such as the Internet, without redaction, exposes the document owner to customer distrust and potential litigation from customers affected by malicious use of their personal information.