Guide to Audio Redaction Software for Data Privacy & Compliance

Learn what is audio redaction and why audio redaction software has become a necessity for organizations to secure sensitive data and comply with data privacy regulations.

In today's digital landscape, organizations are increasingly relying on audio recordings to capture and store valuable information. From customer service call centers to legal proceedings and healthcare consultations, these recordings often contain sensitive details that must be protected.

In fact, a single healthcare call center can receive over 2000 calls daily, resulting in a staggering 40,000 calls per month, each with a potential minefield of vulnerable information that needs to be redacted before sharing.

The importance of data privacy and compliance cannot be overstated. Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA mandate the protection of sensitive information, and failure to comply can have severe consequences, including reputational damage, lawsuits, and heavy penalties. To address this challenge, audio redaction software has emerged as a vital tool, providing a solution for obscuring or removing sensitive information from audio files

This ultimate guide is designed for organizations handling sensitive audio data, including call centers, legal firms, healthcare providers, and financial institutions. We will delve into the core functionalities of audio redaction software, explore the types of sensitive information that need redaction, and highlight best practices for implementing these tools effectively. By the end of this guide, you will understand how audio redaction software can help your organization enhance data protection, reduce risk, and improve efficiency.

What is Audio Redaction?

Audio redaction is the process of removing or obscuring sensitive information from audio recordings to ensure privacy and compliance with various legal and regulatory standards.

This process involves identifying and isolating specific parts of an audio file, such as names, personal identifiers, financial details, or other confidential information that should not be disclosed to unauthorized parties.

Unlike simple audio editing, which might involve cutting or altering sections of a recording for general content purposes, audio redaction specifically focuses on safeguarding sensitive data. The goal is to ensure that only the necessary and permissible information is available in the final audio file, making it suitable for sharing, storing, or presenting in contexts where privacy is a critical concern.

This method is increasingly essential across various industries, including healthcare, legal, law enforcement, and corporate environments, where audio recordings may contain personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), or other confidential details.

Types of Sensitive Information in Audio Files

The types of information that may need redaction in audio files vary depending on the context but commonly include: 

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Names, addresses, Social Security Numbers, SSNs, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, and other details that can uniquely identify an individual. 

Financial Data

Financial information like credit card numbers, account numbers, bank details, and financial statements often needs redaction to protect against unauthorized access. 

Health Information

Organizations that handle protected Health Information (PHI), including medical diagnoses, treatment details, and patient names, should redact such sensitive information.

Legal Information

Case numbers, witness names, confidential legal discussions, and other sensitive legal data may need to be redacted to maintain confidentiality and comply with legal standards.

Proprietary Information

Trade secrets, confidential business information, and intellectual property are types of proprietary information that often require redaction to safeguard a company’s competitive advantage.

Importance of Audio Redaction

Audio redaction plays a crucial role in maintaining privacy, protecting sensitive information, and ensuring that organizations comply with various legal and regulatory requirements. Below are the key reasons why audio redaction is important:

Legal Compliance

One of the primary reasons for implementing audio redaction is to ensure adherence to data privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

These regulations require organizations to protect personal and sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure. By redacting sensitive data from audio recordings, organizations can avoid legal penalties, protect individual privacy rights, and demonstrate their commitment to regulatory compliance.

For example, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was fined 1.2 billion euros for violating GDPR data protection practices. The fine was imposed due to Meta’s transfer of personal data to the US, marking the largest GDPR penalty ever recorded.

It is noteworthy that larger organizations have huge amounts of data and complying with such regulations can become a headache because of this high volume.

Securing Confidential Information

Audio redaction is essential for securing confidential information contained in audio recordings. This includes personal identifiers, financial data, proprietary information, and other sensitive content.

Redacting such information helps prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches, thereby protecting the integrity and security of the organization’s data assets. In an era where data breaches can have severe financial and reputational consequences, securing confidential information through audio redaction is a critical safeguard.

However, organizations can face challenges securing confidential details in length audios, and this problem can escalate when there is a time constraint and a lack of workforce.

Organizational Reputation

The accidental or intentional release of sensitive data can significantly damage an organization's reputation. Public trust is vital for any organization, and a data breach or privacy violation can lead to a loss of customer confidence, negative media coverage, and potential legal actions.

By effectively redacting sensitive information from audio files, organizations can avoid these risks, preserving their reputation and maintaining the trust of their clients, customers, and stakeholders.

Types of Audio Redaction

When it comes to audio redaction, there are several methods organizations can use to ensure that sensitive information is properly removed from audio recordings.

Each method has its own advantages and is suited for different use cases depending on the volume of audio files and the level of precision required. Below are the three types of audio redaction:

Automated Redaction

Automated redaction is a technology-driven process that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and remove or obscure sensitive information from audio recordings.

This automated approach offers significant advantages over manual redaction, as it reduces the time needed for redaction, enabling you to process more data in less time, quickly and accurately, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring consistent application of redaction rules.

Organizations that aim to secure sensitive information within a set time and have limited people, can significantly benefit from automated redaction.

Manual Redaction

Manual redaction is a labor-intensive process that involves human reviewers carefully listening to audio files and identifying sensitive information for removal or obscuration.

Unlike automated redaction, which relies on technology, manual redaction depends on human judgment and expertise to accurately pinpoint sensitive content. While manual redaction offers greater precision in complex or nuanced cases, it is often time-consuming and can be challenging when dealing with large volumes of audio data.

To achieve the best results, many organizations combine manual and automated redaction techniques, leveraging the strengths of both approaches.

Bulk Redaction

Bulk redaction is a time-saving redaction type that allows organizations to process multiple audio files simultaneously. This method is particularly beneficial for those dealing with large volumes of audio data, as it significantly streamlines the redaction process.

By redacting multiple files in a single batch, organizations can reduce the time and effort required for this task, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Moreover, users can combine both automated and manual redaction techniques to create a comprehensive and efficient redaction workflow.

For example, organizations may use automated redaction to identify and redact common types of sensitive information in bulk, while reserving manual redaction for more complex cases. This hybrid approach can help organizations achieve the best balance of efficiency and accuracy in their redaction processes.

How Audio Redaction Software Works

Understanding the different methods of audio redaction is crucial, but it is equally important to know how the software behind these processes operates.

Audio redaction software leverages advanced technologies to streamline the redaction process, whether automated, manual, or bulk.

Here is a closer look at the steps of how this software works to effectively remove sensitive information from audio recordings.

Step#1 Uploading Audio

The process begins when the user uploads the audio file to the redaction software. The software typically supports various audio formats, making it versatile for diverse types of recordings.

Sometimes, users can bulk upload the audio files. An organization selects multiple files and uploads them in one go.

Step#2 Generating Transcripts

After uploading the audio file, the software transcribes the spoken content into text using advanced speech recognition technology. This transcription serves as the basis for identifying which parts of the audio need to be redacted.

Moreover, auto-transcripts also offer a visual representation of the audio, making it accessible to individuals with hearing impairments, a requirement of the American Disability Act.  

Step#3 Redaction Identification

After transcription, the user reviews the text and identifies sections that contain sensitive information, such as personal identifiers, confidential details, or any other content that needs to be hidden from unauthorized listeners.

In automated redaction, the redaction software uses pre-defined patterns to detect and redact sensitive information in multiple audio files simultaneously.

Step#4 Using Different Redaction Methods

Once the user has identified the areas in the audio file that need redaction, they can choose from various methods to effectively conceal or remove the sensitive information. The following are the two common and most effective methods for redacting audio.

Bleeping

The sensitive information is replaced with a beep sound, making the content unintelligible while maintaining the flow of the conversation.

Muting

The software removes sensitive information and replaces it with silence, creating a seamless audio experience without the redacted content.

Step#5 Redaction Application

The selected redaction method is then applied to the identified sections of the audio file. The software processes the audio to ensure that the sensitive information is effectively removed or obscured while preserving the integrity of the rest of the recording.

Step#6 Export the Redacted File

After the redaction is complete, the software allows the user to export the redacted audio file. The file is saved in the desired format, with securely removing the sensitive information, making it safe for sharing, storage, or further use.

What are the technologies used in Audio Redaction Software?

The above steps include various technologies which include speech recognition technology known as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). It converts spoken words in the audio file into text for easier analysis and redaction.

Along with ASR, the redaction process also has Natural Language Processing (NLP). It analyzes the text for context and helps in accurately identifying sensitive information that needs redaction.

Finally Audio Processing applies the chosen redaction method to the specific portions of the audio file.

Key Features to Look for in Audio Redaction Software

To fully harness the power of audio redaction software, it is essential to understand the key features that can make or break its effectiveness. The right software should not only streamline the redaction process but also offer a range of functionalities that cater to your organization’s specific needs.

Below, we explore the most important features to consider when choosing a solution that will safeguard sensitive information while maintaining efficiency and compliance.

Automatic Detection and Redaction

When evaluating audio redaction software, one key feature to consider is automatic detection and redaction. This feature harnesses the power of AI and Machine Learning to automatically identify and remove sensitive information, such as personal identifiers, from audio recordings.

By learning and adapting over time, these technologies ensure that redaction is both accurate and consistent, even when dealing with large volumes of data.

Central to this capability is Speech Recognition technology, as we have mentioned earlier, which converts spoken words into text. After transcribing, the software scans the text for specific keywords or phrases that need to be redacted, such as names, addresses, or financial details.

This automated process not only reduces the need for manual intervention but also enhances the speed and reliability of redaction, making it an invaluable tool for organizations committed to protecting sensitive information.

Bulk Redaction

When managing large volumes of audio files, Bulk Redaction is a feature that can enhance efficiency. This capability allows organizations to process multiple audio files simultaneously, applying redaction rules across an entire batch rather than handling each file individually.

This is particularly useful in environments like call centers or legal firms, where they have to review and redact vast amounts of audio content.

By leveraging bulk redaction, organizations can significantly reduce the time and effort required for the redaction process. Whether combined with automated or manual redaction techniques, this feature ensures that sensitive information is consistently and accurately removed across all files.

The result is a more streamlined workflow that maintains high standards of data privacy and security, even when dealing with large datasets.

Keyword Search Abilities

Keyword search capabilities are a powerful feature in audio redaction software that enhances the precision and efficiency of the redaction process. This functionality allows users to search for specific keywords or phrases within audio files, quickly identifying the sensitive information for redaction.

After identifying the keywords, the software can automatically apply the necessary redaction techniques across the entire file or even across multiple files at once.

This not only speeds up the redaction process but also ensures consistency, as the same keywords are uniformly redacted throughout all relevant audio content.

For organizations that regularly handle sensitive information, this feature is valuable in maintaining data privacy while reducing the manual effort involved in the redaction process.

Integration Capabilities

Integration capabilities are essential for ensuring that audio redaction software seamlessly fits into your existing workflows and systems. This feature allows the software to connect with other tools and platforms that your organization already uses, such as content management systems, legal databases, or customer relationship management (CRM) software.

With strong integration capabilities, audio redaction becomes a more streamlined process, enabling you to import, process, and export files without disrupting your established procedures.

Whether you need to integrate with cloud storage solutions or internal databases, this feature ensures that the redaction software works harmoniously within your tech ecosystem, enhancing efficiency and reducing the complexity of managing sensitive audio data across different platforms.

Multi-Format Support

Multi-format support is a crucial feature in audio redaction software, providing the flexibility to work with various audio file formats, such as MP3, WAV, AAC, and more. This capability ensures that regardless of the type of audio content you are handling, the software can process and redact sensitive information effectively.

By supporting multiple formats, the software eliminates the need for time-consuming file conversions and allows for a more streamlined workflow. Whether you are dealing with diverse audio sources or managing a large library of files in different formats, multi-format support ensures that the redaction process is smooth and efficient, helping you maintain consistency and accuracy across all types of audio content.

Customizable Redaction Options

Customizable redaction options are vital for tailoring the audio redaction process to meet the specific needs of your organization. This feature allows you to choose between manual and automated redaction methods, depending on the complexity of the task and the level of precision required.

In addition to selecting the method, you can also choose from different types of redaction techniques, such as bleeping and muting as we have mentioned above.

These options give you the flexibility to apply the most appropriate redaction method for each situation, ensuring that the redaction process is both effective and aligned with your organization’s standards for data privacy and security.

Customizable redaction options make it easier to handle a wide range of audio files, from simple to complex, with the precision and control that your specific use cases demand.

Audit Logs

Audit Logs provide a detailed record of all redaction activities performed on audio files. This feature tracks every action taken, from the identification of sensitive information to the application of redaction, ensuring complete transparency and accountability.

Moreover, with comprehensive audit logs, organizations can review the history of redactions, which is essential for compliance with data privacy regulations and internal policies.

Data Security

Beyond the features we have discussed, data security stands as a vital consideration, a broad term that covers a wide range of protocols designed to safeguard sensitive data. Here are a few essential ones that are a must have:

1. Encryption

Encryption is essential for safeguarding audio files during storage and processing. By encrypting data, the software ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the content remains unreadable and secure.

This protection is vital for maintaining data privacy and complying with regulatory standards, as it prevents sensitive information from being exposed or compromised.

2. Access Controls

Access controls provide a layer of security by limiting who can view, edit, or manage sensitive audio files. This feature ensures that only authorized personnel have access to confidential information, reducing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized disclosure. Proper access controls are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the redaction process and ensuring that sensitive data remains protected.

3. IAM and SSO

Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Single Sign-On (SSO)are key features for managing secure access within an organization. IAM allows administrators to define and enforce access policies, while SSO streamlines the authentication process, enabling users to access the software with a single set of credentials.

Together, these features ensure that only verified users can access the redaction software, enhancing security and simplifying access management to your redaction software.

4. Password Protection

Password protection adds an essential layer of security to sensitive audio files, requiring authorized credentials to access them. This feature ensures that even within the organization, access to sensitive data is strictly controlled, limiting it to only those with the correct passwords.

This is particularly crucial for sensitive audio files that demand rigorous access control and protection, so that only desired people can access the file.

5. Limited Share

Limited share or tokenized URLs functionality allows organizations to securely share audio files with relevant audiences for a limited time. This feature ensures that access to sensitive files is temporary and restricted to specific users, minimizing the risk of unauthorized distribution or prolonged exposure.

By controlling the duration and scope of file sharing, organizations can better protect confidential information while still enabling necessary collaboration.

What Are the Benefits of Using Audio Redaction Software

With robust features like encryption, access controls, and flexible deployment, audio redaction software ensures both security and efficiency. But what specific advantages does it bring? Let us explore the key benefits of using audio redaction software and how it can streamline operations:

Time and Cost Savings

Audio redaction software offers considerable time and cost savings by automating the redaction process. This reduces the need for manual labor, streamlines time-consuming tasks, and enables organizations to process large volumes of audio files more efficiently.

Additionally, the software minimizes the need for human reviewers and transcribers, further reducing labor costs. Overall, the efficiency gained from audio redaction software translates into substantial time and cost savings for organizations.

Increased Accuracy

Automated redaction software significantly enhances the accuracy of the redaction process by leveraging advanced technologies like AI and machine learning. This enables consistent and precise detection and redaction of sensitive information, unlike outdated manual processes prone to human error.

As a result, automated software ensures uniform identification and removal of sensitive data across all audio files, reducing errors and inconsistencies. With this level of accuracy and consistency, organizations can trust that the redaction process is thorough, providing a higher level of data protection and compliance with privacy regulations.

Improved Efficiency

Audio redaction software enhances efficiency by streamlining the entire audio review and redaction process. By automating key tasks, the software reduces the time and effort required to identify and remove sensitive information, making the process much more straightforward and less labor-intensive.

This automation also enables faster processing and turnaround times, allowing organizations to manage and redact audio files more quickly. This approach benefits FOIA requests.

Whether dealing with large volumes of data or tight deadlines, the improved efficiency provided by audio redaction software ensures that tasks are completed promptly without sacrificing accuracy or quality.

Consistency and Standardization

Automated audio redaction ensures consistency and standardization throughout the redaction process by applying uniform redaction policies and standards across all audio files. This automated approach eliminates the variability that can occur with manual redaction, where different individuals might apply redaction techniques differently.

By ensuring uniformity across all audio files, the software guarantees to handle sensitive information in the same way every time, regardless of the file or the content. This consistency not only enhances data protection but also helps organizations maintain compliance with privacy regulations and internal standards, providing a reliable and standardized approach to managing sensitive audio data.

Reduced Risk

By automating the redaction process, the software minimizes the risk of human error and bias, which can happen in manual redaction tasks. Automation ensures the accurate identification and consistent redaction of sensitive information, reducing the chances of mistakes that could lead to data breaches or non-compliance.

Additionally, the software ensures that sensitive information is thoroughly protected and properly redacted in every audio file, leaving no room for oversight.

Enhanced Productivity

With audio redaction software on board, organizations can enhance productivity by automating routine and time-consuming tasks, allowing teams to shift their focus to more high-value tasks and analysis. Instead of spending hours manually reviewing and redacting audio files, employees can concentrate on strategic activities that drive the organization forward.

This shift in focus increases overall productivity and efficiency, as teams are no longer bogged down by repetitive tasks. The streamlined process enables faster completion of projects, freeing up resources and time for other important work, leading to greater efficiency and productivity across the organization.

Ease of Use

A key advantage of audio redaction software is its ease of use. Because the design of the software is intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring that even those with minimal technical expertise can quickly learn and operate it. This simplicity reduces the time required for training, allowing users to start redacting sensitive information almost immediately.

Because the software is easy to navigate, teams can focus more on their core responsibilities rather than spending excessive time mastering the tool. This ease of use contributes to a smoother workflow, making the redaction process more efficient and accessible for everyone involved.

Scalability

Cloud-based audio redaction platforms can handle the demands of growing organizations by offering scalability in processing large volumes of audio files efficiently. As the amount of audio content increases, the software can easily manage the workload without compromising speed or accuracy, making it ideal for environments like call centers, legal firms, or public institutions.

Best Practices for Implementing Audio Redaction Software

Implementing audio redaction software effectively requires more than just choosing the right tool; it also involves following best practices to ensure to use the software optimally remains compliant with evolving standards. Below are some key best practices to consider:

Training and Support

Training and support are critical to ensuring that your team can effectively use the audio redaction software. Providing comprehensive training helps users understand the software’s features, functionalities, and best practices for redaction.

Ongoing support, whether through internal resources or vendor assistance, ensures that any issues or questions are promptly addressed, allowing users to maximize the software's potential and avoid common pitfalls.

Check Compliance Updates

Given the importance of data privacy regulations, it is crucial to perform Periodic Compliance Checks to ensure that your audio redaction software remains aligned with current laws and standards.

Regularly reviewing and updating your redaction processes to meet new regulatory requirements helps maintain compliance and reduces the risk of legal penalties. Staying informed about changes in data privacy laws ensures that your organization continues to handle sensitive information responsibly and securely.

Regular Updates and Maintenance

To maintain the security and efficiency of your audio redaction software, it is essential to conduct regular updates and maintenance. Keeping the software up to date with the latest security patches and feature enhancements protects against vulnerabilities and ensures that the software continues to perform at its best. Regular maintenance checks also help identify and resolve any technical issues before they impact the redaction process.

Important Privacy Protection Compliances for Audio Data

There are various regulations and standards to safeguard personal information and ensure that organizations manage sensitive data, including audio format, responsibly.

Understanding and complying with these important privacy protection standards is crucial for maintaining legal compliance, avoiding penalties, and building trust with clients and people. In this section, we will explore some of the key privacy protection compliances that are essential for handling audio data securely and effectively, starting with FOIA:

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a U.S. federal law that grants the public access to government records, promoting transparency and accountability. However, FOIA also includes exemptions to protect sensitive information, such as personal privacy, national security, and confidential business data.

When sharing documents under FOIA, particularly those with audio data, agencies must ensure secure sharing by redacting sensitive information covered by these exemptions.

This process involves using specialized redaction software to remove confidential details before public release, balancing the need for transparency with the protection of privacy and security.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law enacted by the European Union to safeguard the privacy and personal data of individuals.

It establishes strict guidelines for how organizations handle, process, and store personal information, including audio data that may contain identifiable details.

Under GDPR, organizations must ensure that any personal data, including information contained in audio recordings, is protected from unauthorized access and misuse.

This involves implementing robust data protection measures, including the use of redaction tools to obscure sensitive information before sharing or processing.

GDPR's focus on data minimization and transparency requires that organizations carefully manage and secure personal data to comply with these stringent regulations and avoid substantial fines.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. that protects the privacy and security of individuals' health information.

It sets strict standards for the handling of Protected Health Information (PHI), including data contained in audio recordings related to medical or health-related conversations.

HIPAA mandates that organizations implement appropriate safeguards to protect PHI from unauthorized access and disclosure. This includes using redaction software to remove or obscure sensitive information from audio files before sharing them.

By enforcing these measures, HIPAA ensures that personal health information is secure and that organizations comply with privacy requirements, helping to prevent data breaches and maintain patient confidentiality.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state law that enhances privacy rights and consumer protection for residents of California. It provides individuals with greater control over their personal data, including data captured in audio recordings.

Under CCPA, organizations must protect personal information from unauthorized access and ensure that data collection, processing, and sharing practices comply with stringent privacy standards.

This includes using redaction tools to obscure sensitive information in audio files before sharing or processing them. By adhering to these requirements, organizations can safeguard consumer privacy and avoid significant penalties, ensuring secure handling of personal data and in a compliant manner.

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards for protecting cardholder information and ensure secure handling of payment data. While PCI DSS primarily focuses on payment card information, it also impacts any audio recordings containing sensitive payment-related details.

Under PCI DSS, organizations must implement robust security measures to protect cardholder data from unauthorized access and breaches. This includes using redaction software to securely remove or obscure payment information from audio recordings before sharing or processing.

By following PCI DSS guidelines, organizations can maintain the security of payment information, prevent data breaches, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)

The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) is a UK law that complements the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and governs the processing of personal data. It applies to several types of data, including sensitive information found in audio recordings.

Under DPA 2018, organizations must handle personal data securely and in compliance with privacy regulations. This includes using redaction tools to remove or obscure personal details from audio files before sharing or processing them.

By adhering to DPA 2018 requirements, organizations can protect individuals' privacy, prevent unauthorized access, and avoid penalties, ensuring that all data handling practices meet stringent legal standards.

Ending Notes

In today’s data-driven world, protecting sensitive information is a top priority for organizations across all industries. Audio redaction software has become an essential tool, ensuring privacy and compliance by effectively removing sensitive data from audio recordings.

With features like automatic detection, bulk redaction, and customizable options, audio redaction software streamlines the process, improving both efficiency and accuracy. By implementing these tools, organizations enhance data privacy, comply with regulations, and reduce risks—all while building trust with clients and stakeholders.

In conclusion, audio redaction software is a vital asset for organizations aiming to protect their data, strengthen their reputation, and foster a culture of compliance.

By leveraging its key features and adhering to best practices, businesses can confidently safeguard sensitive information and demonstrate a commitment to responsible data handling.

People Also Ask 

What is audio redaction? 

Audio redaction is the removal or masking of sensitive information from audio files. 

What is redacted audio? 

Redacted audio refers to an audio file that has undergone a process known as audio redaction. This process involves deliberately removing or obscuring specific segments within the audio that contain sensitive information. 

How to redact a recording? 

Automated redaction uses software to identify and remove or mask sensitive audio content. It typically involves uploading audio, transcribing it, identifying sensitive parts, redacting them, and exporting the redacted audio. 

Can we undo the redaction? 

No, redaction is irreversible. Once you have removed the sensitive information, you cannot recover the original data. That is why it is necessary to redact a copy of the original file. 

Which elements should we redact? 

You should redact PII, financial data, health info, legal info, proprietary data, and other sensitive details before sharing any audio file.