What practice do courts commonly require in order to protect certain personal information on documents, whether paper or electronic, that is involved in litigation?

What practice do courts commonly require in order to protect certain personal information on documents, whether paper or electronic, that is involved in litigation?
A . Redaction
B . Encryption
C . Deletion
D . Hashing

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

Redaction is the permanent removal of sensitive data―the digital equivalent of “blacking out” text in printed material. Redaction can be accomplished by simply deleting characters from a file or database record, or by replacing characters with asterisks or other placeholders. Redaction is often used to protect personal information, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, or financial data, on documents that are disclosed in litigation, such as pleadings, exhibits, or discovery responses. Redaction is required by courts to comply with privacy laws and rules, such as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), which mandate that parties must redact certain types of personal information from documents filed with the court or produced to the other party. Redaction is also a best practice to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, identity theft, or reputational harm that may result from exposing personal information in litigation.

Reference: When to redact, or not, disclosable documents in litigation – Stewarts The approach to redaction C High Court guidance – Lexology

IAPP CIPP/US Certified Information Privacy Professional Study Guide, Chapter 3: Federal Privacy Laws

and Regulations, Section 3.2: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP).