Blackout Lifetime Redactions Visualized to Physical Scale
- Barrett N.
- Sep 17, 2025
- 2 min read
AS OF SEPTEMBER 2025: Blackout's been trusted to place 7.2 B+ redactions – on 963 M+ pages in over 20.7 M docs!
The infographics below visualize the mind-blowing volumes of sensitive information Blackout has been used to secure during its lifetime.
Formula Explained
Formula |
[Total Redactions] x [Length of Step] = [Total Distance as Steps] |
([Total Distance as Steps]/[Earth's Equatorial Circumference]) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â = [Laps Around the Earth] |
Variables | Measures |
Average Adult Step (cm) | 72 |
Earth's Equator (cm) | 4,007,501,700 |
Blackout Lifetime Redactions Placed | 7,273,422,442 |
Laps Around Earth | 130.6765299 |
Formula Explained
FORMULA |
[Total Docs/Pages] / [500] = [Total Reams] |
[Ream Height] x [Total Reams] = [Pages Redacted Height] |
[Pages Redacted Height] / [Comparison Height] |
Paper 8.5 x 14", 20-lb., 500 ct ream, 6.35 cm |
Mt. Everest stands 8,848.9 m |
Variables | Measure |
Height of Copy Paper Ream (m) | 0.0635 |
Pages Per Ream | 500 |
Total Pages | 963,430,262 |
Comparison Height (m) | 8848.9 |
Pages Redacted Height (m) | 122355.64 |
Formula Explained
FORMULA |
[Total Docs] / [500] = [Total Reams] |
[Ream Height] x [Total Reams] = [Docs Redacted Height] |
[Docs Redacted Height] / [Comparison Height] |
Paper 8.5 x 14", 20-lb., 500 ct ream, 6.35 cm |
Variables | Measures |
Height of Copy Paper Ream (cm) | 6.35 |
Docs* Per Ream | 500 |
Total Docs | 20,725,463 |
Docs Redacted Height (m) | 2632.133801 |
Blackout locates sensitive information quickly and efficiently so users can de-identify it or black it out easily, quickly, and accurately. For example, some of the most common uses of Blackout outside of litigation review are workflows anonymizing Excel documents and PDFs — like those in data breach response, internal investigations, acquisitions and mergers, GDPR matters, and FOIA requests.