Redact court decisions and case files
To summarize a case file, find the arguments in a decision, or prepare a brief with AI, first remove the personal data from the document: that way you protect its confidentiality.
Your document is not passed to any AI: it does not leave your computer and is not uploaded or stored. The name detector runs inside your browser. You can check it: after the first document, disconnect from the internet and it keeps working.
Options
Document language:
Citations of published works (“(Smith, 2019)” and the reference list) stay as they are. Turn it off for a blind review.
An italic paragraph, in the document’s language, that explains to the AI what the codes in brackets are and asks it not to try to guess the data.
Do you already have a HILO lookup table (from a dataset or another document)? Load it and the same people and data keep their codes.
First time using the anonymizer? To process your document without it leaving your phone, HILO has to download, only once, the dictionaries and files it needs (about 140 MB). We recommend using Wi-Fi. On a phone, the process may take longer than on a computer.
Do not close this tab.
People
ID numbers, phone numbers, and emails
Uncheck what you do not want to replace. The names you see here do not leave your computer.
To review
If you do not review them, they are covered anyway. Review them so you do not cover words that are not data.
Before downloading, look at this
These words were left in the anonymized document and could be people or data. Replace the ones that are.
A case file ready to work on with AI
1. Load it
Load the decision or the case file, in Word or in a PDF with text.
2. Review
Decide whether judges and agencies stay or get covered: they show up for review.
3. Use it with AI
Use the document to summarize, find arguments, or prepare a brief.
Parties, witnesses, experts, and their data
A case file names plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, experts, and minors, with IDs, addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes health data. HILO replaces each person and each piece of data with a code, also in headers and footers, and keeps published case law and doctrine citations visible.
The names of judges, courts, and agencies show up as items to review: you decide whether to cover them.
What gets covered in a decision or case file
What identifies the people in the case:
- plaintiffs, defendants, accused persons, victims, and witnesses;
- experts and professionals involved;
- IDs, addresses, phone numbers, and license plates;
- names in the headers and footers of each page.
Citations of published case law and doctrine stay visible.
What you can ask the AI with the anonymized case file
The facts and arguments are still there:
- a timeline of the facts;
- each party’s arguments, organized;
- a summary of a long ruling;
- a draft brief based on the case.
Documents worth anonymizing before using AI
Plans
Start free. When you want more, subscribe or buy hilos on their own.
- Keyword search, coding, and annotating, with no limit
- Unlimited downloads of the edited document
- Error diagnostics and tools for datasets
- Topic and code summaries
- Kappa calculator
- AI features (concept maps, assisted coding, checklist, logic model, variable operationalization), with your hilos
- Anonymize documents: 1 without an account, 5 per week with your account (ES · EN · PT)
- 325 hilos per week for AI features (renewed every Monday at 00:00 UTC)
- Change tracking (redline)
- Change history and traceability
- Anonymize documents: 50 per week (ES · EN · PT)
Payment is processed by Paddle. HILO doesn't see or store your card details.
The week renews on Monday. Each anonymized document you download counts once per file.
Published citations stay visible (“Fallos 325:2148”). If a surname in a citation also appears as a party, it shows up for review so you decide.
Yes. HILO tells you beforehand how long it will take; a hundred-page document takes a few minutes, on your computer.
Not yet: a scanned PDF has no text. With a PDF that has text, the result is an editable Word file.
Yes, like anyone else, also when they appear only by first name. Also check context that could identify them, such as the school.
It gives you a starting point, but publishing has its own rules in each jurisdiction: check the result against them before publishing.