Quick answer: To remove personal information from data brokers, find your listings on people-search sites and use each site’s opt-out form. If you live in California, you can also send one free request to hundreds of registered brokers at once. Expect it to take some time, and plan to repeat it every few months.
What are data brokers, and why do they have your information?
Data brokers are companies that collect information about you and sell or share it with others. The FTC says people-search sites are one type of data broker. They compile reports about you and sell them to anyone willing to pay. Where does the information come from? The FTC says these sites may buy data from other brokers, copy it from social media profiles that are public, and pull it from government public records. Those records can include property, voter registration, driving, and court records.
A single report can show your age, past and current addresses, and the names and addresses of your family members. Most buyers are harmless, like someone looking for an old friend. But the FTC points out that survivors of domestic violence or stalking may not want anyone to find where they live. California’s privacy agency adds that limiting how your data gets sold may reduce unwanted texts, calls, and emails, and may lower your risk of identity theft and targeted fraud. It also says results vary and can take time to notice.
Can you really remove your information?
Mostly, yes, but not completely, and not forever. Here’s the honest picture from the FTC:
- Most people-search sites let you opt out. After you do, the site stops selling your existing information.
- Some details can’t be removed. The FTC gives sex offender status as an example.
- Your information may still show up in the reports of relatives, neighbors, or associates.
- Opting out doesn’t delete your information from public records. Someone could still find those records on a government website.
- If the information in your public records changes, it can re-appear on these sites.
So think of this as a cleanup you repeat, not a one-time delete.
How does California’s DROP work?
If you’re a California resident, start here. DROP, the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform, lets you send one request to over 600 registered data brokers. It’s run by the state, and it’s free.
There are three steps. First, verify that you’re a California resident. Second, create a profile with basic information, and you choose how much to give. Third, submit your request.
The timeline matters because this is new:
- January 1, 2026: DROP opened, and Californians could start submitting requests.
- August 1, 2026: Data brokers began processing requests. It can take up to 90 days to see a status update in DROP.
- November 2026: By now, all brokers in DROP should have finished their first download and upload cycle. After that, brokers must delete data every 45 days.
That means a request you submit today is in the middle of that rollout. Check your status on the DROP site. California also says deleting your data may mean fewer targeted ads and less personalized content. If you’re helping a child or an elderly relative who lives in California, the agency says you may be able to submit a request for them.
How do you remove personal information from data brokers if you don’t live in California?
You do it one site at a time. It’s free, but it takes patience. The FTC’s steps are simple:
- Search for your name or other identifying details on a people-search site. The FTC suggests starting with a phone number or address.
- If you find a report about you, look for a link about opting out and follow the steps.
- If you can’t find the link, search online for the site’s name plus “opt out” or “remove my information.”
- Repeat on other people-search sites.
For example, Whitepages has a suppression request page where you paste the link to your listing and ask for it to be removed. Steps like this change from time to time, so follow what the site shows you.
Which sites should you check? If you don’t know any by name, the FTC points to a guide from the National Network to End Domestic Violence. It’s also a good starting point for survivors: NNEDV’s guide to people searches and data brokers. Some sites ask for details to verify your identity, so be ready for that.
Are paid removal services worth it?
Maybe, but the choice is yours. The FTC says paid services take the opt-out steps for you. Before you sign up, it says to find out:
- How many websites the service covers
- Whether it gives you a report about the sites it opted you out of
- How often it scans those sites and deletes information that has come back
If a service can’t answer all three clearly, skip it. This guide doesn’t recommend any brand, and everything above can be done for free.
How do you keep your information off these sites?
Build a habit of checking. The FTC says to check people-search sites from time to time and to submit a new opt-out request if you find new information about yourself. Because these sites pull from public social media profiles, it also helps to review who can see yours. And if you move or change your name, expect a new round of listings.
Step-by-step: what to do
- Search for your name, phone number, and address on people-search sites.
- Write down each site that lists you, with the link to your listing.
- If you live in California, submit a request on the DROP site.
- On each other site, find the opt-out link.
- If you can’t find it, search for the site’s name plus “opt out.”
- Fill in the form and give only what’s needed to verify you.
- Save a screenshot or email of each confirmation.
- Repeat on the next site.
- Check again in a few weeks to see if the listing is gone.
- Set a reminder to re-check every few months.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Opting out on one site and stopping.
- Searching only for your name. The FTC suggests starting with a phone number or address.
- Expecting public records to disappear. Opting out doesn’t delete them.
- Paying for a service without checking what it covers.
- Never checking again. Your information can come back.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to remove my information? Doing it yourself is free, according to the FTC. DROP is also free: California says it will never charge you to use it. Paid services are optional.
How long does it take? It varies by site. In DROP, California says it can take up to 90 days to see your status updated, and the timing differs by broker.
Will my information come back? It can. The FTC says that if the information in your public records changes, it could re-appear for sale on people-search sites. That’s why checking again every few months matters.
Final thoughts
Start with the sites that list your address and phone number, then set a reminder to check again in a few months.