Anonymising documents

Municipality of Landsmeer

The local authority is obliged to publish all official documents. Many of these documents, such as planning permission decisions, contain sensitive information. The documents must therefore be anonymised. This is done using an algorithm.

Last change on 1st of May 2026, at 7:19 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Other algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Organisation and business operations

Begin date

2026-03

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

We use the computer programme for anonymisation. Landsmeer does this to comply with the disclosure requirements under the WOO. The algorithm also helps to protect individuals, companies and organisations mentioned in the documents. The algorithm helps us to carry out the anonymisation efficiently and carefully.

The algorithm searches the documents for (personal) data and makes a proposal for anonymisation. A member of staff then assesses the proposal. The algorithm therefore does not make automatic decisions. The staff member may also decide to conceal additional information. The reason for concealing text is always stated in the document.

Considerations

Without using the computer programme, anonymising documents takes much longer. Using the programme enables us to publish information more quickly and easily. Automated anonymisation also reduces the risk of human error. As a result, the risk of a data breach is reduced and individuals’ data is better protected.

Human intervention

The algorithm makes suggestions that are always checked manually. There is therefore human oversight of the algorithm. We can also specify which words should or should not be anonymised under any circumstances.

Risk management

The programme may suggest anonymising too much or too little. To prevent this, a member of staff checks the programme’s proposal.

Legal basis

The local authority is obliged to publish all official documents in accordance with the Electronic Publications Act (WEP). This Act is intended to improve access to (proposed) government decisions by making all (proposed) decisions available on [Link to external pagehttps://officielebekendmakingen.nl]. The Open Government Act (WOO) governs the right to information about everything the government does.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out how personal data, such as address details and national insurance numbers, must be handled. Such data may not be recorded or shared without good reason.

Links to legal bases

• Electronic Publications Act (WEP): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0043961
• Open Government Act (WOO): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0045754
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0041233

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

This depends on the document being anonymised. Examples include personal data such as email addresses, telephone numbers, bank account numbers, address details and signatures. Furthermore, under the Open Government Act (Woo), this may also include information that goes beyond personal data. These exceptions are set out in the Woo.