DHS · DHS-2567 · record R1826

FOIA processing automated redaction (RedactAI)

Department of Homeland Security · CBP

Overview

Development stage: In development or acquisitionSource: a) Pre-deployment – The use case is in a development or acquisition status.
High-impact designation: Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact
Impact justification: Not reported
Start date: Not reported
Withheld from public reporting: Not reported

Mission

Topic area: Administrative Functions
Operational functions: FOIA and records management Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

This use case leverages AI technology to streamline the identification and redaction of sensitive content in documents related to FOIA requests. Using Vertex AI and other GCP services, the system identifies and categorizes content that may require redaction based on specific controls. This automation is expected to significantly reduce processing times compared to manual redaction, enhancing efficiency in handling FOIA requests. The system provides recommendations for content to be redacted. Users are required to review and manually approved the suggested redactions based on the appropriate FOIA exemptions.

Expected benefits

AI is being used to find content that may need to be redacted in documents related to FOIA requests and applicable FOIA exemptions. The benefits are expected to be much faster processing time for the requests as opposed to manually performing the task.

System outputs

Output is recommendation of content to be redacted. Users are required to review and manually approve the suggested redactions based on the appropriate FOIA exemptions.

Technology

AI classification: Generative AISource: Generative AI: AI that generates new or synthetic content (e.g., images, videos, audio, text, code).
System name(s): Not reported
Custom-developed code: Not reported
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Not reported
Vendor (as reported): Not reported
Vendors (standardized): None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: Not reported
Privacy Impact Assessment: Not reported
Authorization to Operate: Not reported
Demographic features: Not reported
Training and evaluation data: Not reported
Federal Data Catalog: Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported

AI impact assessmentNo answer reported

Independent reviewNo answer reported

Ongoing monitoringNo answer reported

Operator trainingNo answer reported

Fail-safeNo answer reported

Appeal processNo answer reported

User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported