Data Broker Opt-Out Checklist
Why opt-outs aren't permanent
Data brokers collect from public records — property transactions, voter registration, court filings, address changes. They buy from other brokers. Your data re-enters their system on a 3-6 month refresh cycle. Some brokers maintain suppression lists that prevent re-addition after you've opted out. Many don't.
The opt-out removes you from today's database, not from data they haven't collected yet. This is a recurring maintenance task — not a one-time fix. That's the honest core of why automated removal services exist.
The California shortcut (January 2026)
California launched the DELETE Request and Opt-Out (DROP) portal in January 2026.
The idea: you authenticate once through privacy.ca.gov and submit a single deletion request that cascades to every data broker registered with the California Privacy Protection Agency — over 500 of them. The portal uses MFA and hashed data to protect what you submit.
Starting August 1, 2026, per CPPA regulations finalized in November 2025, brokers must check the DROP system every 45 days and delete matched data within 90 days. They also have to maintain a suppression list — meaning when they re-acquire your data from a new source, they have to delete it again rather than just let it sit.
That suppression list mechanism addresses the re-listing problem, at least for brokers registered in California. If you're a CA resident: prioritize this before the manual opt-out grind.
Non-California residents don't have an equivalent yet.
Manual opt-out — the major brokers
If you're handling this yourself, start with the highest-traffic people-search sites:
- Spokeo — spokeo.com/optout: Find listing, paste URL into form, confirm email. 24-72 hours.
- Whitepages — whitepages.com/suppression-requests: Phone verification call. Also removes from 411.com.
- BeenVerified — beenverified.com/app/optout/search: Name/state search, CAPTCHA, email confirm. Up to 24 hours.
- PeopleConnect — suppression.peopleconnect.us/login: Parent company behind Intelius, Instant Checkmate, US Search, ~15 others. One opt-out reaches the whole network.
- MyLife — mylife.com/ccpa/index.pubview or email [email protected]. 7-14 days.
- Radaris — radaris.com/control-privacy or [email protected].
- FastPeopleSearch — fastpeoplesearch.com/removal: CAPTCHA, ~72 hours.
- TruePeopleSearch — truepeoplesearch.com/removal: Multiple CAPTCHAs.
- FamilyTreeNow — familytreenow.com/optout: Simple process.
- PeopleFinders — peoplefinders.com/opt-out: ID verification, 5-7 business days.
- Acxiom — isapps.acxiom.com/optout/optout.aspx: Removes you from data sold to businesses (not just public-facing sites).
- LexisNexis — consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request: Consumer opt-out portal.
For the complete list (85+ brokers with direct opt-out links): Yael Grauer's Big-Ass Data Broker Opt-Out List on GitHub.
Data Broker Opt-Out Checklist
A maintained reference for removing your personal information from the major data broker sites. Each entry includes the direct opt-out URL, what the process actually involves, how long it takes, and whether you'll need to repeat it. Built by franklinetech.com.
Start with Tier 1. Those sites have the widest reach and the most public search traffic. Work down from there based on your time and risk tolerance. If you want the process automated, see the Incogni vs DeleteMe comparison.
California residents: Before working through this list manually, check the DROP portal — a single authenticated request reaches 500+ registered brokers simultaneously.
Last updated: October 2026. Opt-out URLs change. If a link is broken, search "[broker name] opt out" and verify you're on the official domain.
The Ongoing Maintenance Problem
Most of these opt-outs are not permanent. Data brokers pull from public records — property transactions, voter registration, court records, address changes, DMV data — on a continuous cycle. Once they run another batch update (typically every 3–6 months), your information can re-enter their database from a fresh public source.
What this means in practice:
- Schedule a quarterly revisit of Tier 1 sites at minimum.
- Check Google's Results About You for new surfacing.
- Consider an automated service (Incogni, DeleteMe) if the quarterly cycle is going to fall off your radar — see the full comparison.
- California residents: The DROP portal requires brokers to maintain suppression lists, so re-acquired data gets deleted again automatically. This is the most durable protection currently available for any US consumer.
Resources
- Yael Grauer's Big-Ass Data Broker Opt-Out List — community-maintained, 85+ brokers with direct links
- California DROP Portal — one request, 500+ brokers (California residents only)
- Google Results About You — remove contact info from Google search results
- Incogni vs DeleteMe comparison — if you want this automated
- Full Data Broker Opt-Out Guide — background on how data brokers work and why removal matters
Get the PDF Version
This page is free and always will be. But if you want the checklist as a formatted PDF — with checkboxes, a quarterly maintenance schedule, and everything in one offline document — you can get it free below.
Enter your email, get the PDF. I'll also send the updated edition each quarter when opt-out URLs change and new brokers get added.
Get the free PDF checklist
The complete checklist as a formatted PDF — with checkboxes, direct links, and a quarterly maintenance schedule. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Download the free PDF →Automated services
If repeating this every 3-6 months isn't realistic, automated removal services handle the cycle for you. I did a full breakdown of Incogni vs DeleteMe:
- Incogni — covers 420+ brokers, re-runs removal requests every 60-90 days automatically, ~$100/year. Deloitte-verified coverage numbers.
- DeleteMe — more visible reporting, human-managed removals, narrower practical coverage.
- EasyOptOuts — budget option at $19.99/year for ~100 people-search sites.
The math: if doing this manually takes four hours and you redo it quarterly, the services start making sense fast — not as a luxury but as a time decision.