The Complete Data Broker Opt-Out Guide for 2026

Your personal information is for sale on dozens of data broker websites right now. This guide walks you through removing it from every major one — for free.

What Data Brokers Know About You

Data brokers maintain exhaustive profiles on nearly every adult in the United States. These profiles typically include your full name, current and past addresses going back decades, phone numbers (including cell numbers you thought were private), email addresses, estimated age and date of birth, names of relatives and associates, and even your estimated income range. Many brokers also list property records, voter registration details, court records, professional licenses, and social media accounts tied to your identity.

This information is aggregated from a wide variety of sources. Public records form the foundation — county court filings, property deeds, voter rolls, marriage and divorce records, and business registrations are all freely available and systematically harvested. On top of that, data brokers purchase commercial datasets from loyalty programs, data cooperatives, credit header files, and marketing list vendors. They also scrape the open web, pulling information from social media profiles, forum posts, professional directories, and any other publicly accessible page where your name appears.

The result is a surprisingly detailed dossier that anyone can access, often for free or for a few dollars. Even if individual data points seem harmless on their own, the aggregated profile paints a comprehensive picture of your life — where you have lived, who you know, what you own, and in some cases, your legal history. This is the information that shows up when someone searches your name online, and it is the starting point for most background checks, tenant screenings, and due diligence searches.

Why Opting Out Matters More in 2026

Data broker profiles have always been a privacy concern, but several developments in 2026 make opting out more urgent than ever. The most significant change is the rise of AI-powered search and chatbots. Tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity now pull information from data broker sites and synthesize it into conversational answers. When someone asks an AI assistant about you, the response may include your address history, relatives, and other personal details scraped directly from broker profiles — presented with the authoritative tone of a factual summary.

Beyond AI, employers and landlords increasingly use people-search sites as an informal pre-screening step before running formal background checks. A hiring manager who Googles your name and finds a data broker listing showing old addresses, estimated financial data, or names of associates may form impressions before you ever get an interview. Landlords do the same when evaluating rental applications. The information does not need to be accurate to cause harm — it just needs to raise questions.

Data broker profiles also feed downstream services. Many background check companies, skip tracing tools, and identity verification platforms license data from the same brokers covered in this guide. Removing yourself at the source can reduce how much of your information flows into these secondary systems. And with identity theft continuing to rise, minimizing the amount of personal data available online is one of the most practical steps you can take to protect yourself from fraud, social engineering, and targeted scams.

The Big 5: Priority Opt-Outs

If you are going to start anywhere, start with these five brokers. They have the largest databases, rank highest in search results, and are the most commonly used by people conducting informal background searches. Removing yourself from these five sites will eliminate the majority of your exposure.

1. Spokeo

• Opt-out URL: spokeo.com/optout
• What you need: The URL of your specific Spokeo listing and a valid email address
• Process: Search for yourself on Spokeo, copy the URL of your profile page, paste it into the opt-out form, and enter your email address. Spokeo will send a confirmation email — you must click the link to complete the removal.
• Processing time: 24-48 hours after email confirmation
• Re-listing risk: Moderate. Spokeo may re-create your profile from new data imports within 6-12 months. Check back quarterly.

2. BeenVerified

• Opt-out URL: beenverified.com/app/optout/search
• What you need: Your name, state, and a valid email address
• Process: Navigate to the opt-out page, search for your listing, select the correct profile from the results, and submit your removal request. You will receive a confirmation email that you must respond to.
• Processing time: 24 hours to a few days
• Re-listing risk: Moderate. BeenVerified also owns PeopleLooker, PeopleSmart, and other affiliate sites — opt out of those separately using the same parent opt-out system.

3. WhitePages

• Opt-out URL: whitepages.com/suppression-requests
• What you need: A phone number for verification
• Process: Search for your listing on WhitePages, copy the profile URL, go to the suppression request page, and paste the URL. WhitePages will call or text your phone with a verification code. Enter the code to confirm removal.
• Processing time: 24-48 hours
• Re-listing risk: High. WhitePages is one of the most aggressive re-listers. Plan to re-submit every 3-6 months.

4. TruePeopleSearch

• Opt-out URL: truepeoplesearch.com/removal
• What you need: Your listing URL
• Process: Find your profile on TruePeopleSearch, click the "Remove This Record" link at the bottom of your listing, and confirm. This site offers one of the most straightforward removal processes — no email or phone verification required in most cases.
• Processing time: Often instant, up to 72 hours in some cases
• Re-listing risk: Moderate. New data scrapes can restore your profile within a few months.

5. Radaris

• Opt-out URL: radaris.com/control-privacy
• What you need: An email address. You do not need to create an account.
• Process: Go to radaris.com/control-privacy, follow the steps for your listing, and click the link in the verification email Radaris sends. No account required — if the self-service tool stalls, you can email ccpa@radaris.com directly.
• Processing time: Usually within 24-72 hours
• Re-listing risk: High. Radaris is known for re-adding profiles. Monitor monthly and re-submit as needed.

Tier 2: Important But Less Common

After handling the Big 5, work through these additional brokers. They have smaller audiences but still appear in search results and feed data to background check services. Block off an afternoon and batch these together — most can be completed in a few minutes each.

• Intelius, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate & US Search (one opt-out covers all four): These four sites are all run by the same company, PeopleConnect, and a single suppression request at suppression.peopleconnect.us removes you from all of them at once. Submit there, confirm by email — one of the biggest time-savers on this list. (You may still see individual opt-out links like intelius.com/opt-out; they route to the same place.)
• PeopleFinders: Visit peoplefinders.com/opt-out (note the "s" — peoplefinder.com is a different site). Enter your profile URL or search your name, complete the CAPTCHA, and confirm via the verification email. Typically processes within 24-48 hours.
• PeopleLooker: Go to peoplelooker.com/opt-out (it redirects to BeenVerified's centralized opt-out). Since PeopleLooker is a BeenVerified property, the process mirrors BeenVerified's. Search, select, confirm via email. Takes 24-48 hours.
• Pipl: Pipl is primarily a B2B service and does not offer a public-facing opt-out for individuals in the same way consumer brokers do. You can email privacy@pipl.com to request removal, citing your rights under applicable privacy laws. Response times vary.
• FastPeopleSearch: Try fastpeoplesearch.com/removal, but this site often blocks browser-based opt-outs behind a security wall. If the form won't load or submit, the reliable path is to email privacy@fastpeoplesearch.com with your name and listing URL requesting removal. Usually processes within 24-48 hours.
• FamilyTreeNow: Go to familytreenow.com/optout. Search for your listing, select it, confirm, and submit. One of the easier opt-outs. Processes quickly, often same-day.
• MyLife: Use the CCPA opt-out page at mylife.com/ccpa — search for your profile, solve the captcha, submit, and enter the verification code MyLife emails you. (Emailing privacy@mylife.com also works.) A live phone call is not required despite older guides saying so. Two heads-ups: MyLife will try to upsell paid "reputation monitoring" during the process — you never need to pay to opt out — and it tends to re-post profiles after a few months, so re-check it.
• Acxiom: Acxiom is a major upstream broker that feeds many other sites, so opting out here reduces re-listings elsewhere. Use the self-service form at isapps.acxiom.com/optout (name, address, email, phone), then confirm via the verification email. No ID or SSN required.

Keep a record of every submission. Some of these sites change their opt-out URLs periodically, and having your original submission documented helps if you need to escalate a request or file a complaint with a state attorney general.

Mugshot-Specific Sites

Mugshot sites operate differently from standard data brokers and deserve separate treatment. Sites like mugshots.com, bustedmugshots.com, and arrests.org specifically aggregate arrest photos and booking records from law enforcement agencies. They are designed to be highly visible in search results, and they can cause severe personal and professional damage regardless of the outcome of the underlying case.

The removal process for mugshot sites is fundamentally different from regular data brokers. Most do not offer a simple opt-out form. Instead, they typically require proof that your case was dismissed, expunged, sealed, or resulted in a not-guilty verdict. You will usually need to provide court documentation — a certified copy of a dismissal order, expungement order, or case disposition — before they will take down your listing. Some mugshot sites have historically charged fees for removal, though several states have now passed laws making paid mugshot removal illegal.

This is where being expunged actually works in your favor. Mugshots.com no longer charges a removal fee, but it will only take down a listing when you can show a qualifying disposition — expunged, sealed, dismissed, or a not-guilty result. If you've already been through expungement, you have exactly that paperwork. To request removal: find your listing's Mugshots ID on the page, then email mugshots.com1@gmail.com with that ID and a copy of your court document. Processing can take up to about 10 days.

If you are dealing with mugshot sites specifically, we have detailed guides on how to remove mugshots from the internet and a breakdown of free vs. paid mugshot removal services that covers what actually works and what is a waste of money.

How to Track Your Progress

With 20 or more brokers to address, tracking your opt-out submissions is essential. Create a simple spreadsheet with the following columns: broker name, opt-out URL, date submitted, confirmation received (yes/no), expected processing time, date to re-check, and current status. This document becomes your master record and saves you from repeating work or missing a broker that slipped through.

Screenshot every confirmation page and save every confirmation email. Some brokers process removals silently — you will not get a notification when your listing is gone. The only way to verify is to search for yourself again after the stated processing window. Set calendar reminders for each broker's expected completion date, and do a spot-check search to confirm your listing no longer appears.

After your initial round of removals, schedule a comprehensive re-check 30 days out. Search your name on Google and Bing, and visit each broker site directly. Data brokers do not always remove all instances of your profile in one pass — some maintain multiple listings for the same person under slight name variations or different addresses. If you find remaining listings, submit new opt-out requests for each one.

The Re-Listing Problem

Data brokers continuously ingest information from public records, commercial providers, and web sources. A listing can reappear after an opt-out when a broker receives new data, but re-listing behavior varies by company and request. Treat a completed opt-out as a dated result, not a permanent guarantee.

A practical approach is to re-check the specific brokers that previously listed you after about 30 days and then periodically based on your risk and available time. Keep the original listing URL, submission receipt, and each dated re-check so you can distinguish a true recurrence from a cached search result.

This maintenance burden is why some people consider a paid removal subscription. A careful do-it-yourself process can still work, but neither a spreadsheet nor a paid service can promise that every broker will stay clear forever. Consistent evidence and re-checks matter more than a large advertised broker count.

When to Consider Paid Services

Paid removal services generally trade money for repeated submissions, monitoring, and reporting. Coverage, pricing, cadence, and proof quality change, so compare the provider's current broker list and terms rather than relying on a headline count.

Before paying, check whether the service covers the specific brokers where you have evidence of a listing, how it labels submitted versus verified removal, how often it re-checks source pages, and what happens after cancellation. A motivated person can handle many opt-outs directly; a subscription mainly buys time and consistency, not guaranteed clearance.

FixMyRecord takes a narrower by-request approach: the free preview maps passive search and clearly labeled source coverage, while the $50 personal diagnosis adds identity resolution and one reviewed action only when a route is genuinely eligible, such as a broker opt-out or eligible Google personal-info request. It is not an unlimited broker subscription, and no source is labeled removed without before/after verification.

Your Rights Under State Law

Several states have passed privacy laws that give you additional leverage when requesting data removal from brokers. Knowing your rights under these laws can strengthen your opt-out requests and give you recourse if a broker fails to comply. Even if you do not live in one of these states, some of the laws apply based on where the broker operates rather than where you reside.

State privacy laws may provide rights to access, delete, correct, or opt out of certain uses of personal data. Eligibility, exemptions, verification rules, response periods, and permitted extensions vary by state and can change. Use current guidance from your state attorney general or consumer-protection agency rather than assuming one deadline applies everywhere.

Keep copies of your request and the broker's response. If a broker does not honor a right that clearly applies to you, your state attorney general or consumer-protection office may publish a complaint route. This guide is general information, not legal advice.