Yes, you can ask data brokers to remove or stop selling information about you. The process is free when you submit requests yourself, but it isn't a single nationwide form for everyone.
California residents have a centralized option through the California Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP). People in other states generally need to contact brokers individually, use rights available under their state law, or consider a removal service.
Removal isn't permanent in every case. Information can reappear when a broker receives a new public record or buys data from another source, so plan to check again.
What a data broker opt-out does
Data brokers and people-search websites may publish or sell information such as your name, past and current addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives, and other public or commercially obtained details.
A request can have one of two results:
- Deletion or suppression: The broker removes a matching profile or stops displaying it.
- Sale or sharing opt-out: The broker keeps some information but limits certain sales or disclosures.
The exact result depends on the broker's process and the law that applies to you. An opt-out from one site also doesn't erase the original public record, remove information from every other broker, or prevent future collection.
A people-search removal also isn't the same as a credit freeze. If identity theft is your concern, treat credit protection as a separate task.
Choose the right removal route
| Your situation | Best starting point | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| California resident | California DROP | It covers registered California data brokers and requires residency verification |
| Vermont resident | The broker's privacy or opt-out process, alongside Vermont-specific rights | Coverage and procedures differ from California's centralized system |
| Resident of another state | Direct broker requests and any applicable state privacy process | There is no general national one-request system identified here |
| High public visibility or little time | A reputable removal service | You pay a recurring fee and still need to check results |
California DROP
The official DROP portal requires you to verify that you're a California resident before you submit a deletion request. If the automated verification doesn't confirm your residency, the portal says you can request a review of that classification.
A DROP request sends a deletion and sale opt-out request to data brokers on California's registry. The number changes as brokers register; the Electronic Frontier Foundation reported that one request reached 614 brokers at the time of its review.
The portal states that registered brokers must process deletion requests at least once every 45 days beginning August 1, 2026. That is a processing requirement, not a promise that every record will disappear immediately.
To use DROP:
- Open the official portal rather than a paid intermediary.
- Complete the residency verification.
- Review the information covered by the request.
- Submit the deletion and opt-out request.
- Save the confirmation, request date, and any broker status information.
- Check the results after the applicable processing period and document any listing that remains.
Don't use California's portal if you don't live in California. Residency verification is part of the process.
Vermont and other states
Vermont's Data Broker Act took effect on January 1, 2019. The Vermont Data Broker Act overview describes registration requirements and the state's data-broker framework. Vermont's system isn't the same as California's DROP process, so begin with the broker's own privacy or suppression page and confirm current state guidance if a request is disputed.
For residents of other states, check the privacy page of the relevant state attorney general or privacy agency before assuming that a right applies. A vendor's list of state laws isn't a substitute for the current rule.
How to opt out manually for free
A manual approach works best when you focus first on sites that display your home address, phone number, or relatives.
1. Search for your exposed profiles
Search your full name with your city, state, former city, phone number, or email address. Record the exact profile links you find. Search variations of your name, including a middle initial or maiden name.
Start with well-known people-search sites such as:
- Spokeo
- Whitepages
- BeenVerified
- Intelius
- PeopleFinders
- MyLife
- US Search
- TruePeopleSearch
- FastPeopleSearch
- Radaris
- Nuwber
- That'sThem
After checking public-facing profiles, look at larger marketing and identity databases such as Acxiom, Epsilon, Oracle data products, and LexisNexis. These companies may not show a public profile, and their privacy request procedures can differ.
The Consumer Reports guide to people-search opt-outs points readers to an alphabetical list of more than 50 brokers and their opt-out links. A maintained list is usually more useful than a static “top 20” checklist because broker pages change.
2. Find the broker's official request page
On the broker's website, look for terms such as:
- Privacy choices
- Do not sell or share
- Suppression
- Remove my information
- Opt out
- Consumer rights request
Use the broker's official form or email address. Avoid third-party sites that ask you to pay simply to submit a request that the broker accepts for free.
Enter enough information for the broker to match your profile, but don't provide unnecessary details. Never include your Social Security number in a normal opt-out form. If identity documentation is required, check whether the broker accepts a redacted copy and obscure unrelated numbers where allowed.
3. Complete the verification
Many requests are not finished until you click a verification email or complete another identity check. Use an email address you monitor and check spam folders after submitting.
Save:
- The profile URL
- The date and time of submission
- The email address used
- The confirmation email or request number
- The broker's stated response period
- A screenshot showing the original listing
Don't assume that seeing a “request received” message means the profile has already been removed.
4. Confirm the result
Search for the same profile after the broker's stated processing period. Try the old profile link and a fresh name-and-city search. If the listing remains, submit a follow-up using the original confirmation and explain that the matching record is still visible.
If the broker doesn't provide a response period, give it a reasonable amount of time, then use the privacy contact listed in its policy. Keep your communications factual and retain copies.
5. Repeat on a schedule
Check major people-search sites about once every three months, and check sooner after a move, new phone number, marriage, or other public-record change. Removing a listing today doesn't prevent a new version from appearing later.
A simple spreadsheet can keep the work manageable:
| Broker | Profile link | Submitted | Verification complete | Stated deadline | Result | Next check |
|---|
Should you pay for a removal service?
Removal services can save time by scanning multiple sites, submitting requests, and resubmitting them over time. They don't have unlimited reach, and their site counts aren't directly comparable. One service may scan a broker but not submit a request, while another may support only a particular plan or region.
Consumer Reports recommends a combined approach: use a service for recurring submissions, then handle stubborn sites yourself.
| Approach | Cost pattern | Work required | Best fit | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual requests | Usually no service fee | High at first, then recurring checks | People who want control and have time | Missed sites, verification failures, and reappearing data |
| Removal service | Recurring subscription | Lower day-to-day effort | People with many listings or limited time | Coverage limits, renewals, data handling, and cancellation terms |
| Hybrid approach | Service fee plus your time | Moderate | People who want broad monitoring and personal control | Some difficult brokers may still require a direct request |
If you're comparing Optery and DeleteMe, review the current plan details instead of relying on an advertised number of sites. Check whether each plan:
- Scans for your information or actually submits removal requests
- Verifies that a profile disappeared
- Resubmits requests when data returns
- Includes custom or difficult-to-remove brokers
- Covers additional household members
- Explains what personal information the company stores
- Lists the renewal price and cancellation method
- States whether refunds apply to the plan you choose
Treat success-rate claims cautiously. A meaningful comparison would need to identify the sites tested, the definition of “removed,” the time period, and whether listings reappeared. No service should be treated as a guarantee that your information will vanish from the internet.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting only one request: A single broker removal doesn't cover other sites.
- Skipping email verification: An unverified request may not be processed.
- Using the wrong profile: Save the exact listing URL and make sure the details match you.
- Oversharing: Don't provide more identity information than the form requires.
- Paying for a free form: Check the broker's own privacy page first.
- Ignoring non-people-search brokers: Marketing databases may not display a public profile but can still require a separate request.
- Forgetting renewals: A subscription can continue until you cancel it under the service's terms.
- Expecting a permanent result: Recheck after removal and after major public-record changes.
What to do if a broker ignores your request
Start with your evidence: the original profile, request date, verification message, and any stated deadline. Contact the broker's privacy department through the method in its current policy and ask for a status update.
California residents should also keep their DROP confirmation and use the portal's own support or status instructions. For state-specific disputes elsewhere, follow the complaint process published by the relevant state agency. Don't send sensitive documents to an unverified address found in a search result.
If the listing contains an immediate safety risk, such as a home address connected to stalking or harassment, document the exposure and consider asking the broker what expedited safety process it offers. Removal requests can reduce exposure, but they aren't an emergency response system.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone use California DROP?
No. The portal requires users to verify California residency. People who live elsewhere should use direct broker requests and any rights available in their own state.
Does a DROP request remove my information everywhere?
No. DROP is directed to data brokers on California's registry. It doesn't erase every public record, website, search-engine result, or database that may contain the same information.
Is a paid removal service necessary?
No. You can submit many broker requests yourself. A paid service may be worthwhile if you have numerous listings, need recurring monitoring, or don't want to manage confirmations and follow-ups.
How often should I check after opting out?
A quarterly check is a practical baseline. Search again sooner after a move, phone-number change, or other event that creates a new public record.
Start by searching your name and city, save the first few profile links, and submit those requests through each broker's official privacy page. If you live in California, begin with the official DROP portal instead.