If your organisation is sitting on a mountain of video footage that needs redacting, you might be wondering how to get through it all. Whether it’s CCTV recordings, interview footage, or compliance-related video, one thing is clear — doing it manually just won’t cut it anymore.
Redacting one or two short clips by hand might be manageable, but hundreds? That’s a logistical and legal nightmare waiting to happen. Let’s break down exactly why manual video redaction isn’t scalable — and how switching to software could save your business time, money, and headaches.
The Realities of Manual Redaction
Let’s be honest: manually redacting video is slow, tedious, and prone to mistakes.
For each clip, someone has to:
- Watch the footage in full.
- Identify every face, licence plate, screen or document.
- Apply a blur or mask to each object.
- Review frame by frame to make sure nothing was missed.
Now multiply that process across hundreds of videos, each possibly hours long. The time investment becomes enormous, and the margin for error grows with every frame.
And unlike written documents, video is dynamic. Objects move, lighting changes, people come in and out of frame. Manual redaction struggles to keep up with this complexity. Companies like Secure Redact are changing the game.
Scaling Manual Redaction Is a Non-Starter
Trying to scale a manual redaction process quickly hits a wall. Hiring more staff might sound like a solution, but:
- It’s expensive. You’ll need trained people who can handle sensitive data with care.
- It’s inconsistent. Humans make mistakes, especially under pressure or tight deadlines.
- It’s unsustainable. As your video library grows, so does the workload — exponentially.
Worse still, the longer it takes to redact footage, the more likely you are to miss compliance deadlines or lose access to time-sensitive evidence. That’s a risk you simply can’t afford.
Compliance Doesn’t Wait
Privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA, and others around the world are getting stricter. If your organisation collects or stores video with identifiable individuals, you’re required to protect that data.
When someone submits a subject access request or when footage needs to be shared externally, you can’t release it until all sensitive details are redacted. And these requests often come with short deadlines.
Manual redaction is just too slow to meet these timelines reliably. And failing to comply can lead to hefty fines and legal action — not to mention reputational damage.
How Automated Redaction Software Changes Everything
Here’s where automated video redaction software becomes a game-changer.
Powered by AI, these tools can:
- Detect faces, licence plates, screens, and more — automatically.
- Track moving objects across frames.
- Apply consistent redaction standards across all footage.
- Process hours of video in minutes.
You can upload multiple files, set your redaction preferences, and let the system do the heavy lifting. Some platforms even generate audit logs so you have proof of compliance for regulators.
In short: it’s faster, safer, and far more scalable.
Case in Point: Manual vs. Software
Imagine this: a transport company needs to redact 400 hours of dashcam footage following a data access request.
Manual approach: A team of three staff spends weeks scrubbing through the footage, redacting faces and number plates by hand. Mistakes slip through, deadlines are missed, and the company gets a warning from the regulator.
Automated approach: The same footage is uploaded to a redaction platform. Within hours, the processed files are ready — fully compliant and backed by audit trails.
Which one sounds like the smarter way to work?
What Increases the Price of Video Redaction Software?
Are you wondering how much video redaction software will cost you? Every provider is slightly different, but most of the popular options offer you various plans. For example, there can be a basic and free version. This allows you to use the software and redact a certain number of minutes each month. For instance, this could be around 20 minutes. Then, if you go over this, you have a top-up fee.
While it can be great to get something for free, this isn’t always the most cost-effective option for your business. It all depends on your needs. First, you should work out the number of minutes you’ll need to redact each month. Then, you can choose a suitable plan. Those that you pay for will have a lower top-up fee than the free version. Plus, they’ll have a higher number each month for redaction minutes.
Note that the features available to you can increase when you pay a higher price. This can include more sophisticated options or additional features that make your workload easier. Therefore, it’s worth exploring what you can do and comparing this to what you need for the best investment.
Final Thoughts:
Manual redaction might have worked when video was rare. But in today’s data-rich world, it’s just not fit for purpose — especially when you’re dealing with hundreds of files.
Automated video redaction software isn’t just a tech upgrade — it’s a compliance tool, a time-saver, and a legal safety net. If your organisation relies on video, it’s the only realistic way forward.
