Where your information ends up and why it matters
Data brokers are companies that collect and sell your personal information — your name, address, phone number, email, sometimes financial details or property records — to other businesses. They get this data from public records, online transactions, social media, and other websites you visit. Unlike a hacker stealing your information, data brokers operate legally, but that does not mean your data has to stay in their databases.
The reason to remove your information is practical: less data floating around means fewer places for scammers to find you, fewer companies selling your contact details to telemarketers, and fewer data breaches that expose your personal information. You cannot stop all data collection, but you can reduce how much is available for sale.
The process is not difficult, but it is tedious because there is no single form to fill out. Instead, you contact individual brokers directly and request removal. Most will do it, though some require you to verify your identity first by uploading a photo of your ID or answering security questions.
Key Takeaways
- Data brokers legally collect and sell your personal information, but most will remove it if you request it directly through their website or phone line.
- The major brokers include Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, and Intelius, but dozens of smaller ones also hold your data.
- Removal usually requires you to verify your identity by uploading a photo ID or answering security questions, and takes one to four weeks.
- You will need to repeat this process periodically because data brokers re-collect information over time, so your data may reappear after six months to a year.
- Opting out of data sales through the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) or similar state laws can reduce how much new data brokers collect about you going forward.
Finding which brokers have your information
You do not need to contact every data broker in existence. Start by searching for yourself on the major ones to see which actually have your data listed. Search your full name, your name plus your city, and your name plus your phone number on each site. If your information does not appear, you do not need to request removal.
The largest brokers to check are Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, Intelius, and TruthFinder. These six handle the majority of people-search traffic. Smaller brokers exist — sometimes dozens of them — but starting with these six removes your information from the places most people will find it.
As you search, write down which sites actually show your data. Some will display your name and city for free but hide your phone number or address behind a paid report. That is fine — you are just documenting where your information is. You do not need to pay for a report to request removal.
How to request removal from each broker
Every major data broker has a removal process, though they hide it in different places. Most have a link at the bottom of their homepage labeled "Remove My Information" or "Privacy" or "Do Not Sell My Information." Some require you to call instead. Here is where to find the removal option on each major broker:
| Broker | Where to Find Removal | What You Will Need |
|---|---|---|
| Spokeo | spokeo.com/removal — click "Remove My Information" | Email address, photo ID or answer security questions |
| BeenVerified | beenverified.com/opt-out — enter your name and email | Email address, photo ID |
| Whitepages | whitepages.com/suppression — click "Remove My Listing" | Email address, photo ID or answer security questions |
| PeopleFinder | peoplefinder.com/opt-out — enter your name and email | Email address, photo ID |
| Intelius | intelius.com/optout — click "Remove My Information" | Email address, photo ID |
| TruthFinder | truthfinder.com/opt-out — enter your name and email | Email address, photo ID |
When you submit a removal request, the broker will ask you to verify that you are actually you. Most will email you a link to upload a photo of your driver's license or passport. Some will ask security questions instead — like "What street did you live on in 2015?" — which you answer based on their records. This verification step protects you from someone else removing your information without permission.
After you submit verification, the broker will confirm removal by email. This usually takes one to four weeks. Some brokers remove your information when ready; others take longer. Keep the confirmation email in case you need to follow up.
Dealing with smaller brokers and repeat listings
After you remove your information from the major six, you may still find yourself on smaller brokers. These include sites like MyLife, when ready Checkmate, and dozens of others that operate similarly. You can search for your name plus "data broker" or "people search" to find others, then look for their removal process — usually labeled the same way as the major brokers.
The harder problem is that data brokers re-collect your information over time. Your name and address are public record in property databases, voter registrations, and court filings. Brokers scrape these sources regularly, so your information may reappear six months to a year after removal. This means you may need to request removal again periodically.
To reduce how often this happens, you can opt out of data sales through your state's privacy law if one exists. California's CCPA, Virginia's VCDPA, and similar laws in other states let you tell brokers not to sell your information. This does not remove what they already have, but it can slow down how much new data they collect about you.
Opting out through state privacy laws
If you live in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, or Montana, your state has a consumer privacy law that gives you the right to opt out of data sales. These laws let you send a single request to data brokers telling them not to sell your information going forward. Some brokers honor these requests across all their platforms.
To use this option, visit the data broker's website and look for a link that says "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" or "Opt Out of Sale." This is different from the removal process — removal deletes what they have, while opting out stops them from selling new data about you. You may need to do both.
If your state does not have a privacy law yet, you can still request removal through the standard process, but you cannot use the opt-out mechanism. Check your state's attorney general website if you are unsure whether your state has a privacy law.
Protecting yourself after removal
Removing your information from data brokers is one step, but it does not stop new data from being collected. Every time you fill out a form online, sign up for a service, or make a purchase, you are giving companies information they may sell to brokers later.
To slow this down, use a different email address for online shopping and signups — one separate from your main email. Use a phone number that forwards to your real number rather than giving out your actual number. When forms ask for optional information like your phone number or date of birth, leave those fields blank if you can.
You can also reduce your digital footprint by adjusting privacy settings on social media. Set your Facebook, Instagram, and other accounts to private so your information is not visible to the public. Data brokers scrape public profiles, so limiting what is public limits what they can collect.
What to do if a broker refuses removal
Most brokers will remove your information if you request it, but occasionally one will refuse or claim they cannot find your listing even though you can see it on their site. If this happens, you have a few options.
First, try contacting them again through a different method. If you submitted a form, try calling their customer service number instead. If you called, try the online form. Sometimes the removal request gets lost in the system.
If they still refuse, you can file a complaint with your state's attorney general office or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has authority over data brokers and takes complaints about refusal to remove information. You can file at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include screenshots of your information on their site and copies of your removal requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to remove my information?
No. Legitimate data brokers remove your information for free when you request it. If a site asks you to pay for removal, it is likely a scam. Use only the official removal pages on the broker's main website, not third-party removal services that charge fees.
Will my information stay removed forever?
Not necessarily. Data brokers re-collect information from public records and other sources, so your data may reappear after six months to a year. You may need to request removal again periodically. Opting out through state privacy laws can slow this down but does not prevent it entirely.
What if I do not have a photo ID to upload for verification?
Most brokers offer an alternative to uploading ID. They will ask you security questions instead — like previous addresses or phone numbers — that only you should know. If a broker offers neither option, contact their customer service to ask what verification methods they accept.
Can I remove my information from Google search results?
Partially. You can ask Google to remove your information from their search results through their removal tool at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals, but this does not remove it from the original websites. You still need to contact the data brokers directly. Removing from Google just makes it harder for people to find the information through a search.
Should I use a third-party removal service instead of doing this myself?
You do not need to. The process is free and straightforward if you do it yourself. Third-party removal services charge money to do what you can do at no cost. The only reason to use one is if you have very limited time and want someone else to handle the requests, but the outcome is the same either way.