Character masking

Demonstrates masking characters.

Explore further

For detailed documentation that includes this code sample, see the following:

• De-identifying sensitive data
• Transformation reference

Code sample

C#

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

using System;
using Google.Api.Gax.ResourceNames;
using Google.Cloud.Dlp.V2;

public class DeidentifyWithMasking
{
    public static DeidentifyContentResponse Deidentify(string projectId, string text)
    {
        // Instantiate a client.
        var dlp = DlpServiceClient.Create();

        // Construct a request.
        var transformation = new InfoTypeTransformations.Types.InfoTypeTransformation
        {
            PrimitiveTransformation = new PrimitiveTransformation
            {
                CharacterMaskConfig = new CharacterMaskConfig
                {
                    MaskingCharacter = "*",
                    NumberToMask = 5,
                    ReverseOrder = false,
                }
            }
        };
        var request = new DeidentifyContentRequest
        {
            Parent = new LocationName(projectId, "global").ToString(),
            InspectConfig = new InspectConfig
            {
                InfoTypes =
                {
                    new InfoType { Name = "US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER" }
                }
            },
            DeidentifyConfig = new DeidentifyConfig
            {
                InfoTypeTransformations = new InfoTypeTransformations
                {
                    Transformations = { transformation }
                }
            },
            Item = new ContentItem { Value = text }
        };

        // Call the API.
        var response = dlp.DeidentifyContent(request);

        // Inspect the results.
        Console.WriteLine($"Deidentified content: {response.Item.Value}");
        return response;
    }
}

Go

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"
	"io"

	dlp "cloud.google.com/go/dlp/apiv2"
	"cloud.google.com/go/dlp/apiv2/dlppb"
)

// mask deidentifies the input by masking all provided info types with maskingCharacter
// and prints the result to w.
func mask(w io.Writer, projectID, input string, infoTypeNames []string, maskingCharacter string, numberToMask int32) error {
	// projectID := "my-project-id"
	// input := "My SSN is 111222333"
	// infoTypeNames := []string{"US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER"}
	// maskingCharacter := "+"
	// numberToMask := 6
	// Will print "My SSN is ++++++333"

	ctx := context.Background()
	client, err := dlp.NewClient(ctx)
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("dlp.NewClient: %w", err)
	}
	defer client.Close()
	// Convert the info type strings to a list of InfoTypes.
	var infoTypes []*dlppb.InfoType
	for _, it := range infoTypeNames {
		infoTypes = append(infoTypes, &dlppb.InfoType{Name: it})
	}
	// Create a configured request.
	req := &dlppb.DeidentifyContentRequest{
		Parent: fmt.Sprintf("projects/%s/locations/global", projectID),
		InspectConfig: &dlppb.InspectConfig{
			InfoTypes: infoTypes,
		},
		DeidentifyConfig: &dlppb.DeidentifyConfig{
			Transformation: &dlppb.DeidentifyConfig_InfoTypeTransformations{
				InfoTypeTransformations: &dlppb.InfoTypeTransformations{
					Transformations: []*dlppb.InfoTypeTransformations_InfoTypeTransformation{
						{
							InfoTypes: []*dlppb.InfoType{}, // Match all info types.
							PrimitiveTransformation: &dlppb.PrimitiveTransformation{
								Transformation: &dlppb.PrimitiveTransformation_CharacterMaskConfig{
									CharacterMaskConfig: &dlppb.CharacterMaskConfig{
										MaskingCharacter: maskingCharacter,
										NumberToMask:     numberToMask,
									},
								},
							},
						},
					},
				},
			},
		},
		// The item to analyze.
		Item: &dlppb.ContentItem{
			DataItem: &dlppb.ContentItem_Value{
				Value: input,
			},
		},
	}
	// Send the request.
	r, err := client.DeidentifyContent(ctx, req)
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("DeidentifyContent: %w", err)
	}
	// Print the result.
	fmt.Fprint(w, r.GetItem().GetValue())
	return nil
}

Java

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

import com.google.cloud.dlp.v2.DlpServiceClient;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.CharacterMaskConfig;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.ContentItem;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.DeidentifyConfig;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.DeidentifyContentRequest;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.DeidentifyContentResponse;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.InfoType;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.InfoTypeTransformations;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.InfoTypeTransformations.InfoTypeTransformation;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.InspectConfig;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.LocationName;
import com.google.privacy.dlp.v2.PrimitiveTransformation;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.util.Arrays;

public class DeIdentifyWithMasking {

  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    // TODO(developer): Replace these variables before running the sample.
    String projectId = "your-project-id";
    String textToDeIdentify = "My SSN is 372819127";
    deIdentifyWithMasking(projectId, textToDeIdentify);
  }

  public static void deIdentifyWithMasking(String projectId, String textToDeIdentify)
      throws IOException {
    // Initialize client that will be used to send requests. This client only needs to be created
    // once, and can be reused for multiple requests. After completing all of your requests, call
    // the "close" method on the client to safely clean up any remaining background resources.
    try (DlpServiceClient dlp = DlpServiceClient.create()) {

      // Specify what content you want the service to DeIdentify
      ContentItem contentItem = ContentItem.newBuilder().setValue(textToDeIdentify).build();

      // Specify the type of info the inspection will look for.
      // See https://cloud.google.com/dlp/docs/infotypes-reference for complete list of info types
      InfoType infoType = InfoType.newBuilder().setName("US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER").build();
      InspectConfig inspectConfig =
          InspectConfig.newBuilder().addAllInfoTypes(Arrays.asList(infoType)).build();

      // Specify how the info from the inspection should be masked.
      CharacterMaskConfig characterMaskConfig =
          CharacterMaskConfig.newBuilder()
              .setMaskingCharacter("X") // Character to replace the found info with
              .setNumberToMask(5) // How many characters should be masked
              .build();
      PrimitiveTransformation primitiveTransformation =
          PrimitiveTransformation.newBuilder()
              .setCharacterMaskConfig(characterMaskConfig)
              .build();
      InfoTypeTransformation infoTypeTransformation =
          InfoTypeTransformation.newBuilder()
              .setPrimitiveTransformation(primitiveTransformation)
              .build();
      InfoTypeTransformations transformations =
          InfoTypeTransformations.newBuilder().addTransformations(infoTypeTransformation).build();

      DeidentifyConfig deidentifyConfig =
          DeidentifyConfig.newBuilder().setInfoTypeTransformations(transformations).build();

      // Combine configurations into a request for the service.
      DeidentifyContentRequest request =
          DeidentifyContentRequest.newBuilder()
              .setParent(LocationName.of(projectId, "global").toString())
              .setItem(contentItem)
              .setInspectConfig(inspectConfig)
              .setDeidentifyConfig(deidentifyConfig)
              .build();

      // Send the request and receive response from the service
      DeidentifyContentResponse response = dlp.deidentifyContent(request);

      // Print the results
      System.out.println("Text after masking: " + response.getItem().getValue());
    }
  }
}

Node.js

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

// Imports the Google Cloud Data Loss Prevention library
const DLP = require('@google-cloud/dlp');

// Instantiates a client
const dlp = new DLP.DlpServiceClient();

// The project ID to run the API call under
// const projectId = 'my-project-id';

// The string to deidentify
// const string = 'My SSN is 372819127';

// (Optional) The maximum number of sensitive characters to mask in a match
// If omitted from the request or set to 0, the API will mask any matching characters
// const numberToMask = 5;

// (Optional) The character to mask matching sensitive data with
// const maskingCharacter = 'x';

// Construct deidentification request
const item = {value: string};

async function deidentifyWithMask() {
  const request = {
    parent: `projects/${projectId}/locations/global`,
    deidentifyConfig: {
      infoTypeTransformations: {
        transformations: [
          {
            primitiveTransformation: {
              characterMaskConfig: {
                maskingCharacter: maskingCharacter,
                numberToMask: numberToMask,
              },
            },
          },
        ],
      },
    },
    item: item,
  };

  // Run deidentification request
  const [response] = await dlp.deidentifyContent(request);
  const deidentifiedItem = response.item;
  console.log(deidentifiedItem.value);
}

deidentifyWithMask();

PHP

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\CharacterMaskConfig;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\Client\DlpServiceClient;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\ContentItem;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\DeidentifyConfig;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\DeidentifyContentRequest;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\InfoType;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\InfoTypeTransformations;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\InfoTypeTransformations\InfoTypeTransformation;
use Google\Cloud\Dlp\V2\PrimitiveTransformation;

/**
 * Deidentify sensitive data in a string by masking it with a character.
 *
 * @param string $callingProjectId The GCP Project ID to run the API call under
 * @param string $string           The string to deidentify
 * @param int    $numberToMask     (Optional) The maximum number of sensitive characters to mask in a match
 * @param string $maskingCharacter (Optional) The character to mask matching sensitive data with (defaults to "x")
 */
function deidentify_mask(
    string $callingProjectId,
    string $string,
    int $numberToMask = 0,
    string $maskingCharacter = 'x'
): void {
    // Instantiate a client.
    $dlp = new DlpServiceClient();

    // The infoTypes of information to mask
    $ssnInfoType = (new InfoType())
        ->setName('US_SOCIAL_SECURITY_NUMBER');
    $infoTypes = [$ssnInfoType];

    // Create the masking configuration object
    $maskConfig = (new CharacterMaskConfig())
        ->setMaskingCharacter($maskingCharacter)
        ->setNumberToMask($numberToMask);

    // Create the information transform configuration objects
    $primitiveTransformation = (new PrimitiveTransformation())
        ->setCharacterMaskConfig($maskConfig);

    $infoTypeTransformation = (new InfoTypeTransformation())
        ->setPrimitiveTransformation($primitiveTransformation)
        ->setInfoTypes($infoTypes);

    $infoTypeTransformations = (new InfoTypeTransformations())
        ->setTransformations([$infoTypeTransformation]);

    // Create the deidentification configuration object
    $deidentifyConfig = (new DeidentifyConfig())
        ->setInfoTypeTransformations($infoTypeTransformations);

    $item = (new ContentItem())
        ->setValue($string);

    $parent = "projects/$callingProjectId/locations/global";

    // Run request
    $deidentifyContentRequest = (new DeidentifyContentRequest())
        ->setParent($parent)
        ->setDeidentifyConfig($deidentifyConfig)
        ->setItem($item);
    $response = $dlp->deidentifyContent($deidentifyContentRequest);

    // Print the results
    $deidentifiedValue = $response->getItem()->getValue();
    print($deidentifiedValue);
}

Python

To learn how to install and use the client library for Sensitive Data Protection, see Sensitive Data Protection client libraries.

To authenticate to Sensitive Data Protection, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment.

from typing import List

import google.cloud.dlp


def deidentify_with_mask(
    project: str,
    input_str: str,
    info_types: List[str],
    masking_character: str = None,
    number_to_mask: int = 0,
) -> None:
    """Uses the Data Loss Prevention API to deidentify sensitive data in a
    string by masking it with a character.
    Args:
        project: The Google Cloud project id to use as a parent resource.
        input_str: The string to deidentify (will be treated as text).
        info_types: A list of strings representing info types to look for.
            A full list of info type categories can be fetched from the API.
        masking_character: The character to mask matching sensitive data with.
        number_to_mask: The maximum number of sensitive characters to mask in
            a match. If omitted or set to zero, the API will default to no
            maximum.
    Returns:
        None; the response from the API is printed to the terminal.
    """

    # Instantiate a client
    dlp = google.cloud.dlp_v2.DlpServiceClient()

    # Convert the project id into a full resource id.
    parent = f"projects/{project}/locations/global"

    # Construct inspect configuration dictionary
    inspect_config = {"info_types": [{"name": info_type} for info_type in info_types]}

    # Construct deidentify configuration dictionary
    deidentify_config = {
        "info_type_transformations": {
            "transformations": [
                {
                    "primitive_transformation": {
                        "character_mask_config": {
                            "masking_character": masking_character,
                            "number_to_mask": number_to_mask,
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    }

    # Construct item
    item = {"value": input_str}

    # Call the API
    response = dlp.deidentify_content(
        request={
            "parent": parent,
            "deidentify_config": deidentify_config,
            "inspect_config": inspect_config,
            "item": item,
        }
    )

    # Print out the results.
    print(response.item.value)

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