> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pathlit.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# PII Anonymizer Node

> Protect personally identifiable information by anonymizing sensitive data

## Overview

The PII Anonymizer Node detects and anonymizes personally identifiable information (PII) in text. This node enables you to:

* Automatically detect and redact sensitive information
* Support multiple entity types (SSN, credit cards, emails, names, etc.)
* Use typed placeholders or generic redactions
* Generate deanonymization keys for later restoration
* Comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA

## Configuration Parameters

### Node Configuration

* **PII Entities**:

  Select which types of personally identifiable information to anonymize:

  **Global Entities:**

  * Credit card numbers
  * Cryptocurrency wallet addresses
  * Dates and times
  * Email addresses
  * IBAN codes
  * IP addresses
  * Names and locations
  * Phone numbers
  * URLs

  **US-Specific:**

  * Bank account numbers
  * Driver licenses
  * ITIN numbers
  * Passport numbers
  * Social Security Numbers

  **Other Regions:**

  * UK NHS/NINO
  * Australian ABN/TFN/Medicare
  * Indian PAN/Aadhaar
  * Singapore NRIC

## Expected Inputs and Outputs

* **Inputs**:

  * The node accepts text input containing potentially sensitive information

* **Outputs**:

  * **output**: Anonymized text with PII replaced by placeholders
  * **secrets**: JSON object containing deanonymization information (encryption key, entity mappings, placeholders)

## Use Case Examples

1. **Secure Data Processing**:

   Anonymize customer data before sending it to external APIs or third-party services for analysis.

2. **Compliance Workflows**:

   Ensure GDPR/CCPA compliance by automatically redacting PII from documents and communications.

3. **Safe Testing**:

   Create anonymized datasets from production data for testing and development environments.

## Error Handling and Troubleshooting

* **Detection Accuracy**:

  The node uses AI-powered detection which may occasionally miss or incorrectly identify PII. Review critical outputs.

* **Language Support**:

  Currently optimized for English text. Other languages may have reduced accuracy.

* **Deanonymization**:

  Store the "secrets" output securely if you need to restore original data later using the PII Deanonymizer node.

If you encounter any issues not covered in this documentation, please reach out to our [support team](mailto:dev@pathlit.ai) for assistance.

## Relevant Nodes

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="PII Deanonymizer Node" href="/docs/nodes/pii-deanonymizer">
    Restore original data from anonymized text
  </Card>

  <Card title="LLM Node" href="/docs/nodes/llm">
    Process anonymized text safely with AI
  </Card>

  <Card title="Document Reader Node" href="/docs/nodes/document-reader">
    Extract text before anonymization
  </Card>
</CardGroup>