If you send CVs by email or upload them to clients, you risk sharing personal data like names, emails, phone numbers, or ID numbers without control. This free PII detector spots those details in CVs before they leave your inbox, helping you avoid GDPR slip-ups and candidate complaints.
TL;DR: Use this free PII detector online to find personal info in CVs quickly. It runs entirely in your browser, so no data is uploaded or stored. For bulk or automated workflows, consider upgrading to Distill's full CV processing platform.
Use the tool (above)
Paste or drag a CV into the box above to scan it. The tool highlights personal information like:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- National ID, passport, or driving licence numbers
It works with Word, PDF, and plain text formats. You don't need to create an account or download anything.
How it works
This PII detector runs completely in your browser. When you upload a file:
- It extracts the text locally using JavaScript.
- It scans for common patterns matching names, emails, phone numbers, and ID numbers.
- It highlights detected PII so you can decide what to remove or edit.
Because all processing happens on your device, your CV never leaves your computer. This avoids sending sensitive data to a server or third-party.
The detector uses regular expressions and pattern matching tuned to UK, Australian, and European formats. It catches obvious PII but won't find everything. For example, it may miss less common ID numbers or nicknames.
This tool is designed for quick checks, not full compliance audits.
Privacy: nothing leaves your browser
Your CV data stays on your machine at all times. We don't upload, store, or share any files or extracted text.
This approach:
- Removes risk of data leaks or breaches on a remote server
- Ensures compliance with GDPR and other privacy laws by design
- Lets you scan CVs without worrying about where the data goes
If you want to verify this, open your browser's developer tools and watch the network tab. You'll see zero outbound connections when running the detector.
For agencies handling hundreds of CVs, this privacy-first approach means you can spot PII without adding another compliance headache.
When to upgrade to the full Distill workflow
This free tool suits occasional or manual checks on individual CVs. But if you:
- Send 20+ CVs a week to clients with strict PII rules
- Need automatic stripping of personal data before submission
- Want to reformat CVs to match ATS requirements
- Require audit logs and compliance reports
Then Distill's full workflow is a better fit. It integrates with your email and ATS, strips name, email, phone, photo, and graduation year automatically, and formats CVs to client specs.
You can try Distill free for these features, then decide if it fits your team's volume and compliance needs.
FAQ
Q: Does the tool catch all personal info? A: No. It finds common PII but may miss uncommon or disguised data. Use it as a first check, not a guarantee.
Q: Is the detector safe for confidential CVs? A: Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser. No files or info are uploaded.
Q: What file types can I scan? A: Word (.doc, .docx), PDF, and plain text files.
Q: Do I need to sign up or install anything? A: No. It's a free, browser-only tool with zero signup.
Q: Can I scan multiple CVs at once? A: Not with this free tool. For bulk processing, try Distill's full workflow.
Q: How accurate is the detection? A: It catches standard formats for emails, phones, and ID numbers in UK, Australia, and Europe. Irregular formats may be missed.
If you regularly send CVs containing personal data, this free PII detector helps you find and remove it before submission. For higher volumes or automated compliance, Distill formats and strips CVs to client specs automatically. Try the free tool above or start a free Distill trial today.