Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: June 25, 2025
Got questions? We've got answers! Find everything you need to know about PII Shield, privacy protection, and staying compliant while using AI tools.
Getting Started
What is PII Shield and how does it work?
PII Shield is a Chrome browser extension and web dashboard that automatically detects personally identifiable information (PII) before you submit content to AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot. It works by scanning your input in real-time and either blocking or redacting sensitive data before it leaves your browser.
Does ChatGPT store my prompts?
Yes—unless you're using enterprise builds or APIs with no-training policies, many public tools log and retain user prompts. This is why PII Shield is crucial for protecting sensitive information before it reaches these services.
Do I need technical expertise to use PII Shield?
No technical expertise required. PII Shield works automatically in the background. Simply install the Chrome extension, and it will start protecting your data immediately. The dashboard provides easy-to-understand reports and settings that anyone can manage.
How quickly can my team start using PII Shield?
Most teams are up and running in under 5 minutes. Install the extension, create your team account, and invite members. The system works immediately with default privacy settings, and you can customize rules later as needed.
What AI tools does PII Shield protect?
PII Shield works with all web-based AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot, Notion AI, Jasper, and hundreds of others. It protects any web form or text input where you might accidentally share sensitive information.
Privacy & Compliance
What counts as PII?
Essentially anything that can identify someone—directly (e.g. name, email) or indirectly (e.g. role + location + complaint). This includes obvious identifiers like names and addresses, but also combinations of data that could identify someone when put together.
Does PII Shield help with GDPR compliance?
Yes. PII Shield helps prevent GDPR violations by detecting EU personal data (names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) before it reaches external AI services. It also provides audit trails showing what data was protected and when, which helps with compliance reporting.
What about HIPAA compliance for healthcare organizations?
PII Shield detects common healthcare identifiers including patient names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, and health conditions. While it helps prevent accidental HIPAA violations, healthcare organizations should also implement proper access controls and staff training.
Can PII Shield detect industry-specific sensitive data?
Yes. PII Shield can be configured to detect industry-specific data patterns like credit card numbers, social security numbers, employee IDs, customer reference numbers, and proprietary data formats unique to your organization.
What happens to the data that PII Shield detects?
PII Shield processes all data locally in your browser. We never see or store the content you are trying to submit. Only anonymized metadata (like "PII detected" or "email address found") is sent to our servers for reporting purposes.
Team Management
How do I invite team members to PII Shield?
Go to your team dashboard and click "Invite Member." Enter their email address and select their role (Member, Admin, or Owner). They will receive an invitation link to join your team with the appropriate permissions.
What are the different user roles in PII Shield?
Owner: Full access including billing and team deletion. Admin: Can invite members, modify settings, and view all reports. Member: Can use the extension and view their own activity reports. Roles can be changed by Owners and Admins.
Can I see what my team members are doing with AI tools?
PII Shield provides privacy-focused reporting. Admins can see aggregate statistics (number of PII detections, which AI tools are used) but cannot see the actual content or conversations. This balances oversight with employee privacy.
How do I manage different privacy rules for different team members?
You can create role-based privacy policies. For example, HR staff might have stricter PII detection rules, while developers might have rules focused on code and API keys. Policies can be applied to specific users or groups.
Technical Questions
Can't people just manually redact?
In a perfect world, sure—but humans aren't perfect. Fatigue, time pressure, and blind spots lead to leaks. Automation helps cover the blind spots and ensures consistent protection even when people are rushed or distracted.
Does PII Shield work with private or on-premises AI models?
Yes. PII Shield protects data before it reaches any AI service, whether public (like ChatGPT), private cloud deployments, or on-premises models. It is particularly valuable for private AI since internal data governance becomes critical.
Will PII Shield slow down my AI workflows?
No. PII detection happens in milliseconds, faster than typical copy-paste actions. The extension is designed to be invisible during normal use and only intervenes when sensitive data is detected.
What happens if PII Shield detects something incorrectly?
You can review and approve flagged content before submission. The system learns from your corrections to reduce false positives over time. You can also whitelist specific patterns or phrases that should not be flagged in your organization.
Can I customize what PII Shield considers sensitive?
Absolutely. You can adjust sensitivity levels, add custom data patterns, whitelist trusted domains, and create organization-specific rules. The system comes with sensible defaults but is fully customizable to your needs.
Does PII Shield work offline?
The core PII detection runs locally in your browser and works offline. However, team synchronization, policy updates, and reporting require an internet connection. Individual protection continues even when offline.
Pricing & Billing
How is PII Shield priced?
PII Shield uses tiered pricing based on team size: Small Team (1-5 seats) at $10/month, Team (6-20 seats) at $7/month per seat, Organization (21-100 seats) at $5/month per seat, and Enterprise (101+ seats) at $3/month per seat. Annual billing offers 20% savings.
Is there a free trial available?
Yes. We offer a 14-day free trial for all plans (90 days for beta testers). No credit card required to start. You can invite your full team during the trial to test all features before committing.
What happens if I exceed my seat limit?
If you temporarily exceed your seat limit, existing users continue working normally. You will be prompted to upgrade your plan or remove inactive users. We provide a grace period to avoid service interruption.
Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
Yes. You can cancel anytime through your billing dashboard. Your team retains access until the end of the current billing period. Data and settings are preserved for 30 days in case you want to reactivate.
Do you offer discounts for nonprofits or educational institutions?
Yes. We provide significant discounts for qualified nonprofits, educational institutions, and open-source projects. Contact our sales team with your organization details to learn about available programs.