Removing Your Personal Data from the Internet

Your personal information — name, address, phone number, email, relatives' names, employment history, and more — is almost certainly listed on dozens of data broker and people-search websites. These sites scrape public records, social media, loyalty programs, and purchase histories to build profiles that anyone can search for free or for a small fee. The good news is that most of these sites are legally required to honor removal requests. The bad news is that there are a lot of them, and the data tends to reappear.

Step 1: Discover Your Exposure

Before you can remove your data, you need to know where it exists. Start by searching for yourself across multiple people-search sites.

• Search your full name (with and without middle name) on Google, DuckDuckGo, and Bing.
• Search your phone number and email address in quotes.
• Check major data broker sites directly: Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, Intelius, Radaris, FastPeopleSearch, TruePeopleSearch, and MyLife.
• Search your name on social media platforms you do not use — someone may have created a profile using your information.
• Check HaveIBeenPwned.com to see which of your email addresses have appeared in data breaches.

Step 2: Submit Opt-Out Requests

Each data broker has its own opt-out process. Most require you to find your listing, verify your identity, and submit a removal request. This is tedious by design — they profit from your data and want to discourage removals. Here are the opt-out pages for the most common brokers:

• Spokeo: spokeo.com/optout — search for your listing, submit URL and email for removal.
• Whitepages: whitepages.com/suppression_requests — requires phone verification.
• BeenVerified: beenverified.com/opt-out — submit name, state, and age range.
• Intelius: intelius.com/opt-out — requires identifying your specific record.
• Radaris: radaris.com/control/privacy — requires account creation to opt out (use a burner email).
• FastPeopleSearch: fastpeoplesearch.com/removal — relatively straightforward email-based removal.
• TruePeopleSearch: truepeoplesearch.com/removal — submit the listing URL.
• MyLife: contact customer service directly at 1-888-704-1900 or via email.

Step 3: Google Search Result Removal

Even after data brokers remove your listings, cached versions may persist in Google search results. Google offers a tool to request removal of results containing your personal information.

• Use Google's "Results about you" tool (google.com/settings/search/removals) to find and request removal of search results containing your personal contact information.
• You can request removal of results showing your phone number, email address, home address, or other personally identifying information.
• Google typically processes these requests within a few days to a few weeks.

Step 4: Ongoing Maintenance

Data removal is not a one-time event. Brokers re-acquire your data from public records, breaches, and other brokers continuously. Set a recurring calendar reminder to repeat this process every 3-6 months.

• Keep a spreadsheet tracking which sites you have submitted opt-outs to, the date, and the status.
• Consider a paid removal service (DeleteMe, Kanary, or Privacy Duck) if you value time over money. These services automate the process and handle re-submissions.
• Lock down the sources of new data: minimize social media exposure, use mail forwarding services instead of your home address, and use a VoIP number as your public phone number.
• Opt out of marketing lists by submitting requests through the DMA (Direct Marketing Association) and optoutprescreen.com for pre-approved credit offers.