Comment by embedding-shape

19 hours ago

I haven't gone through more than just 10% of the files released today, but noticed that at least EFTA00037069.pdf for example has a `/Prev` pointer, meaning the previous revision of the file is available inside of the PDF itself. In this case, the difference is minor (stuff moved around), but I'm guessing if it's in one file, it could be more. You can run `qpdf --show-object=trailer EFTA00037069.pdf` on a PDF file to see for yourself if it's there.

I'm almost fully convinced that someone did this bad intentionally, together with the bad redactions, as surely people tasked with redacting a bunch of files receive some instructions on what to do/not to do?

11 comments

embedding-shape

Reply
victor9000  12 hours ago

I looked into this specific file, and the history doesn't contain anything too interesting. The root file is already the fully redacted and flattened document, and the edit in question is the addition of a numbered footer to each page.

xhevahir  17 hours ago

> as surely people tasked with redacting a bunch of files receive some instructions on what to do/not to do?

You've phrased this as a question; I gather that you know better than to assume a modicum of competence from these people.

throwawaysleep  16 hours ago

All the reporting I have read suggests that they are roping anyone and everyone they can into doing redactions. So I suspect many simply lack the experience to do it well.

  • embedding-shape  16 hours ago

    Ok, so say someone says "We're overloaded, we need more people" so someone else says "Ok, department Q, R and T changes priority to doing redaction" then at least one person somewhere in this chain has to at least consider that every person from Q, R and T must go through at least a 3 slide powerpoint or whatever saying what's happening, this is what to do, this is what to not do, right?

    • throwaway173738  15 hours ago

      Lol you’re assuming anyone in the management chain believes there’s any nuance or thought to the task beyond the superficial. I can assure you that lots of managers lack the humility to appreciate how little they might actually know.

      1 reply →

  • blitzar  5 hours ago

    They should all have been using the same redaction tooling.

    If I were to hazard a guess, pure speculation, I would say the unretrievable parts were court / previously redacted and the retrievable parts are the latest round of panicked rushed redactions.