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/faq/opt-out
• 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 (navigate to your profile and use the control options)
• What you need: An email address and, in many cases, you will need to create a Radaris account to manage your listing
• Process: Search for yourself on Radaris, locate your profile, and submit a removal request. Radaris may require you to create an account and verify your identity before processing the removal. Some users have reported needing to email info@radaris.com directly if the self-service tool does not work.
• Processing time: 48-72 hours, sometimes longer
• 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: Visit intelius.com/opt-out. Search for your listing, select it, and submit. Requires email verification. Processing takes 72 hours. Intelius is owned by the same parent company as several other brokers, but opt-outs do not cascade — you must submit separately for each.
• Instant Checkmate: Go to instantcheckmate.com/opt-out. Search for your record, select the correct one, and submit a removal request. Email confirmation required. Takes 24-48 hours.
• PeopleFinder: Visit peoplefinder.com/optout. Enter the URL of your profile listing and submit. Email verification required. Typically processes within 48 hours.
• USSearch: Navigate to ussearch.com/opt-out. Search for and select your listing, confirm your identity, and submit. Processing usually takes 48-72 hours.
• PeopleLooker: Go to peoplelooker.com/faq/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: Visit fastpeoplesearch.com/removal. Find your listing and click the removal link. Similar to TruePeopleSearch — relatively fast and straightforward. 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: Visit mylife.com/privacy-policy for opt-out instructions. MyLife can be one of the more difficult brokers to deal with. You may need to call their support line or email privacy@mylife.com. They have been known to upsell paid services during the removal process — you do not need to pay anything to exercise your opt-out rights.

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.

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

Here is the frustrating reality of data broker opt-outs: most of them are temporary. Data brokers continuously ingest new data from public records, commercial data providers, and web scraping operations. When they process a new batch of records that includes your information, they may create a new profile for you — even if you previously opted out. Some brokers honor past opt-out requests when they encounter returning data, but many do not. The industry standard is that an opt-out applies to the specific listing you identified, not to your identity in perpetuity.

The practical result is that you need to treat data broker opt-outs as ongoing maintenance rather than a one-time project. The most effective cadence is quarterly: every three months, run through your tracking spreadsheet and re-check each broker. The worst offenders for re-listing are WhitePages, Radaris, Spokeo, and BeenVerified — these should be checked most frequently. Other brokers like FamilyTreeNow and TruePeopleSearch tend to honor removals for longer periods.

This re-listing cycle is the primary reason many people eventually consider automated monitoring or paid removal services. Manually checking and re-submitting opt-outs across 20 brokers every quarter is tedious but effective. If you commit to the schedule, you can keep your exposure minimal. The key is consistency — a single missed quarter can undo months of work as your online reputation degrades back to its previous state.

When to Consider Paid Services

Paid data broker removal services like DeleteMe, Kanary, and Privacy Duck automate the opt-out process for you. They typically cost between $100 and $200 per year and handle submissions to 30-50 brokers on your behalf, with regular monitoring and re-submission when your information reappears. For people who value their time or who lack the patience to maintain a quarterly opt-out routine, these services can be worthwhile.

What these services actually do is straightforward: they submit the same opt-out forms you would submit yourself, then periodically re-scan to catch re-listings. The value proposition is not secret access or special relationships with brokers — it is automation and consistency. A good service will catch re-listings faster than you would on your own and handle the re-submission without any effort on your part. Most services provide quarterly or monthly reports showing which brokers listed you, which removals were completed, and which are pending.

That said, paid services are not necessary for everyone. If you are motivated and organized, you can achieve the same results with this guide and a spreadsheet. Paid services make the most sense for people with high exposure (many listings across many brokers), those whose professional reputation depends on clean search results, or anyone who simply does not want to spend the time maintaining opt-outs manually. Before signing up, verify that the service covers the specific brokers where you are listed — not all services cover the same set of sites. And be cautious of services that charge premium prices ($400+/year) for what is ultimately form submission on your behalf.

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.

California's CCPA and its successor CPRA give residents the right to know what personal information a business has collected, the right to delete that information, and the right to opt out of its sale. When submitting opt-out requests to brokers, California residents can explicitly cite the CCPA/CPRA to invoke stronger legal protections and faster processing timelines — businesses must respond within 45 days. Vermont requires data brokers to register with the state and maintain minimum security standards, making it one of the few states that directly regulates the data broker industry. Texas passed the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, which includes consumer rights to delete personal data and opt out of data sales. Oregon's consumer privacy law similarly provides deletion and opt-out rights.

When submitting opt-out requests, include a sentence like: "I am exercising my rights under [applicable state law] to request deletion of all personal information associated with my identity." This signals to the broker that you are aware of your legal rights and creates a documented record that can support a complaint to your state attorney general if the broker does not comply. Keep copies of all correspondence. If a broker ignores your request or fails to process it within the legally mandated timeframe, filing a complaint with your state AG's office is a legitimate and effective escalation path.