What you can actually remove from the internet
You cannot delete information that is already public — a news article about you, a court record, or a photo someone posted on social media stays where it is unless the original publisher takes it down. What you can remove is your personal data from data broker websites, which are companies that collect and sell information about you, and you can ask search engines to stop showing certain pages in results.
Data brokers gather your address, phone number, email, age, relatives' names, and sometimes financial or health details from public records, purchases, and other sources. They sell this information to marketers, employers, and others. Removing yourself from these sites takes time — there is no single button — but it is the most direct way to reduce how easily strangers can find your personal details.
Search engines like Google can also remove specific pages from their results if you own the site or if the page contains sensitive information like your Social Security number. This does not delete the page itself, but it stops Google from showing it when someone searches your name.
Key Takeaways
- Data brokers collect your address, phone, and other personal details and sell them; you can remove yourself from each site individually by visiting their removal pages.
- Google and Bing allow you to request removal of specific pages from search results, though the original page remains online.
- Removing yourself from all major data brokers takes several hours spread over weeks, because each site has its own removal process.
- Opting out of data sales at the source — through your bank, insurance company, or state privacy laws — prevents some brokers from collecting your information in the first place.
- Removal is not permanent; data brokers re-collect your information over time, so you may need to remove yourself again after a year or two.
How to remove yourself from major data broker sites
The largest data brokers have removal pages, but they are not always easy to find. You typically need to enter your name and sometimes your address or phone number to locate your profile, then follow the site's removal instructions. Some sites remove you immediately; others take weeks.
Start with these major brokers: Spokeo (spokeo.com), BeenVerified (beenverified.com), Whitepages (whitepages.com), PeopleFinder (peoplefinder.com), and TruthFinder (truthfinder.com). Each has a "remove my information" or "privacy" link, usually at the bottom of the homepage. Click it, search for yourself, and follow the removal steps. You will likely need to verify your identity by email or phone.
Smaller brokers are harder to track down, but the Consumer Reports Security Freeze Center and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse maintain lists of data brokers and their removal URLs. If a broker's removal page does not work or you cannot find one, look for a "contact us" page and send an email requesting removal. Keep records of when you submitted each request.
Removing pages from Google and Bing search results
If a specific page shows up when someone searches your name and you want it hidden from search results, you can request removal directly from Google or Bing. This does not delete the page — it only stops the search engine from displaying it.
For Google, go to google.com/webmasters and sign in with your Google account. Click "Search Console" and select "Removals" from the left menu. Enter the full URL of the page you want removed and submit. Google will review your request and typically respond within a few days. You can remove pages you own (like old social media posts) or request removal of pages containing sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank account details.
For Bing, visit bing.com/webmaster, sign in, and go to "Crawl Control" then "Remove URL". Enter the page address and submit. Bing processes removal requests similarly to Google.
Removal from search results is temporary — the page may reappear in results after several months. If it does, you can submit another removal request.
Using state privacy laws to stop data collection
Several states have passed laws that let you tell companies not to sell or share your personal information. These laws include California's Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Virginia's Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), and similar laws in Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah. If you live in one of these states, you can send a "do not sell" request to any company that collects your data.
Start with companies you do business with directly: your bank, insurance company, credit card issuer, and any online retailers where you have an account. Look for a "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link on their website, usually at the bottom of the homepage. Click it and follow the instructions to opt out. Some companies ask you to verify your identity by email or phone.
You can also send written requests to companies that may have collected your data without your knowledge. Include your full name, address, phone number, and email, and state that you are exercising your right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information under your state's privacy law. Send it to the company's privacy office or legal department.
What to do about social media and public records
Information you posted yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media sites is not controlled by data brokers — it is controlled by the platform and by you. To reduce what is visible, adjust your privacy settings on each platform so that only friends can see your posts, or delete old posts entirely.
Court records, property records, and other government documents are public by law and cannot be removed from the internet. However, you can request that Google remove links to pages containing sensitive information like your home address paired with your name. Go through Google Search Console (as described above) and request removal of pages that expose this combination.
If you are concerned about a specific page — such as a mugshot site or a revenge porn site — contact the site owner directly and ask for removal. Many will take down content if you explain why it is harmful. If the site refuses and the content is illegal in your state (like non-consensual intimate images), you may be able to report it to law enforcement or a victim advocacy organization.
Monitoring your information after removal
After you remove yourself from data brokers, check back periodically — every 6 to 12 months — because these sites re-collect your information over time from public records and other sources. You may need to remove yourself again.
You can also set up a Google Alert for your name so that you receive an email whenever your name appears in new search results. This helps you catch new pages that expose your personal information. Go to google.com/alerts, type your name in quotes, and click "Create Alert". Choose how often you want to be notified.
Some people use paid services like DeleteMe or OneRep that remove you from data brokers on your behalf and monitor for re-listing. These services charge a monthly or annual fee but save you the time of contacting each broker individually.
What removal does and does not do
Removing your information from data brokers and search results makes it harder for strangers to find your personal details quickly, but it does not make you completely invisible online. Your name will still appear in news articles, social media posts by others, and government records. Removal is most effective at stopping data brokers from selling your address and phone number to marketers and skip-tracers.
Removal also does not protect you from someone who already has your information or who knows where to look for it. If someone has your address written down or saved your phone number, removal from data brokers will not change that. The goal is to reduce how easily your information spreads to people you do not know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to remove my information from data brokers?
No. Data brokers are required by law to remove your information for free if you request it. If a site charges you to remove yourself, it is likely a scam. Use only the official removal pages on the broker's website or contact their customer service directly.
How long does it take to remove information from Google?
Google typically processes removal requests within a few days, though it can take up to two weeks. You will receive an email confirmation when your request is submitted and another when it is approved or denied. The page itself remains online; only the search result is removed.
If I remove myself from a data broker, will I appear there again?
Yes. Data brokers continuously collect information from public records and other sources, so your information will likely reappear within 6 to 12 months. You can remove yourself again when this happens, or use a paid monitoring service to handle re-removals automatically.
Can I remove information that someone else posted about me?
Not directly. If someone posted your information on social media or a website they own, you can ask them to take it down. If they refuse and the content is illegal (like intimate images shared without consent), you can report it to the platform or law enforcement. You can request that Google remove the search result, but the original page will remain online.
Does removing myself from data brokers protect me from identity theft?
Removal reduces one risk factor — it makes it harder for someone to gather your personal details in one place — but it does not prevent identity theft. To protect yourself, monitor your credit reports, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and watch for suspicious charges on your bank and credit card statements.