Why You Need a PII Scrubber Before Using AI
Every time you paste a client's name, a patient's diagnosis, or an employee's salary into ChatGPT,
Claude, or Gemini, you're potentially violating data protection laws like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA. These regulations require organizations to implement technical
safeguards before sharing personal data with third-party processors — and AI providers are third-party
processors.
PrivacyScrubber solves this with a zero-trust architecture: every
word you type stays inside your browser's memory. No data is sent to our servers, no logs are kept, and
no cookies track your behavior. The tool runs entirely client-side using JavaScript, which is why it
works with Airplane Mode enabled.
Who Uses PrivacyScrubber?
Legal
Professionals
Lawyers and paralegals use PrivacyScrubber to sanitize contracts,
case notes, and client communications before leveraging AI for drafting, analysis, or research —
while preserving attorney-client privilege.
HR Managers
HR teams anonymize performance reviews, CVs, and payroll data
before using AI summaries or decision tools — keeping compliance with GDPR's data minimization
principles intact.
Finance
Teams
Financial advisors and accountants scrub client names, account
numbers, and tax data before using AI to generate reports — meeting GLBA and SOX requirements
without manual redaction.
PrivacyScrubber vs. Other PII Tools
Most PII redaction tools work server-side: you upload a document, it's sent to their cloud for
processing, and a redacted version is returned. The problem? Your sensitive data just touched a server
you don't control.
PrivacyScrubber is different. Nothing leaves your browser. There is
no API call when you click "Scrub PII" — open DevTools and verify it yourself. This is not a privacy
policy claim; it's an architectural fact.
| Feature |
PrivacyScrubber |
Server-side tools |
| Data leaves your device |
Never |
Always |
| Works offline |
Yes |
No |
| Account required |
No |
Usually |
| Reverse scrub (restore) |
Yes |
Rare |
| DOCX support |
Yes |
Sometimes |
| Price |
Free / $9.99 one-time |
Often monthly |
Is PrivacyScrubber HIPAA / GDPR Compliant?
Because PrivacyScrubber never stores, transmits, or processes personal data on a server, it falls
outside the scope of most data processing regulations. There is no Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
needed — there is no business associate. Your data is processed by your own browser on your
own device. This design is, by definition, the safest possible architecture for handling
sensitive information before AI workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use PrivacyScrubber with any AI tool?
Yes. The scrubbed output is plain text with
tokens like [NAME_1] replacing sensitive
values. You can paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or any AI assistant. After the
AI responds with those tokens, paste the response back to restore the original values.
What happens to my data when I close the page?
It's gone. PrivacyScrubber uses only browser
memory (JavaScript variables) — no localStorage, no cookies, no IndexedDB. The moment you close
or refresh the tab, everything is cleared. This is by design.
Does it detect names in other languages?
PrivacyScrubber detects English names using
capitalized word patterns, emails, phone numbers (US and international formats), SSNs, and
credit card numbers. It targets international, English-language workflows.
Is the $9.99 PRO upgrade a subscription?
No. It's a single one-time payment via
PayPal. No recurring charges, no account, no renewal. PRO features (batch processing and custom
redaction rules) are unlocked immediately after payment.