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This is a prototype vision of how a future government service could work. It's not a real service yet, but we're exploring what it could look like. Your feedback will help shape the real service.

Step 2: Download Sample FOI Document - FOI Redaction Walkthrough

Choose and download a sample FOI response document to test PII detection

Walkthrough progress

Step 2 of 5 • 1 minute

Step 2 1 minute

Download Sample FOI Document

Choose one of our sample FOI response documents to see how AI detects different types of personal information.

Find your FOI Redaction tool URL in CloudFormation Outputs
The FOI Redaction tool ready to process sensitive documents

Expected outcome

  • Sample document downloaded to your computer
  • You understand what PII types are in the document
  • Document opens successfully in your PDF reader

Choose a sample document

We've created 3 realistic sample FOI response documents. Each contains different types of personal information that AI will detect. Choose any one to start:

All sample data is clearly marked with [SAMPLE] prefix. These are fictional FOI responses created for demonstration purposes. No real personal information is used.

What to look for in the document

After downloading, open the PDF and notice:

  1. Names appear in different contexts

    Full names, first names only, or names in signatures. The AI should detect all variations.

  2. Addresses have various formats

    Some are full postal addresses with postcodes, others are property descriptions like "Flat 7, Tower House". All should be detected.

  3. Phone numbers use different formats

    Mobile (07xxx), landline with area code (0121 xxx), or with spaces/dashes. The AI handles all formats.

  4. Email addresses in correspondence

    Personal email addresses that should be redacted to protect privacy.

  5. Sensitive identifiers (where applicable)

    Some documents contain National Insurance numbers or other sensitive data requiring redaction.

Real-world PII detection examples

Here's how AI detects PII in context:

Original Text PII Detected Type
"The applicant, John David Smith, resides at..." John David Smith NAME
"...15 Elm Street, Manchester, M1 4BT" 15 Elm Street, Manchester, M1 4BT ADDRESS
"Contact on 07712 345678 or john.smith@example.com" 07712 345678 john.smith@example.com PHONE, EMAIL

Troubleshooting

Download link not working

If the download button doesn't work:

  • Try right-clicking the button and selecting "Save Link As..."
  • Check your browser's download settings aren't blocking PDFs
  • Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge all support PDF downloads)
  • Check your browser's pop-up blocker isn't preventing the download
PDF won't open

If the downloaded PDF won't open:

  • Check file downloaded completely (file size matches the stated size)
  • Install a PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on Mac, built-in on Windows)
  • Try opening with your browser (drag PDF file onto browser window)
  • Check file isn't corrupted - try downloading again
Can't find downloaded file

If you can't find the downloaded document:

  • Check your browser's Downloads folder (usually in "My Documents" or "Downloads")
  • Click the download icon in your browser to see recent downloads
  • Use Windows Search or macOS Spotlight to search for "sample-council-tax-response.pdf"
  • Check your browser's download settings to see default download location
Note Screenshot placeholder: In production, this page would include screenshots of each sample document's first page and visual highlighting of where PII appears in the documents.

Need help?

If you're stuck, check the troubleshooting section or contact us.