How to remove PDF metadata before publishing a document

You can redact every name in a PDF and still publish personal data: metadata stores the author, the machine user, the software, creation and modification dates, and even GPS coordinates in scanned documents.

What metadata a PDF carries

• Author and creator: usually the employee's real name or network user.
• Title and subject: sometimes the data subject's name or a case number.
• Dates of creation and modification.
• Source application and file path.
• EXIF data in embedded images, including camera model and GPS.
• Layers, comments and bookmarks holding text you thought was gone.

How to check it

1. Windows: right-click the file → Properties → Details.
2. Any viewer: File → Document properties.
3. Review comments, bookmarks and layers too.

How to remove it

1. Clear the fields: author, title, subject, keywords.
2. Flatten the PDF (print to PDF or export) to drop layers, form fields and comments.
3. Inspect the document in Word before exporting.
4. Re-check the final file's properties — the step most people skip.

Metadata and the GDPR

Metadata containing a person's name is personal data. Publishing a PDF whose author is identifiable is an unintended processing operation and a common source of complaints.

Do it in one step

anonimizia removes personal data from the content and strips the metadata of the resulting file, with an auditable report.