Search your name and you may find a page listing your age, current and past addresses, phone numbers, relatives and more. These come from people-search sites, sometimes called data brokers. They gather public records and other data and sell access to it.
You usually have the right to ask them to remove your listing. It takes some patience, but it works.
Before you start
- Use a separate email address for opt-out requests, so new marketing does not reach your main inbox.
- Write down what you submit and when. A simple spreadsheet works: site, date, link, status.
- Do not hand over more data than needed. Some forms ask for extra details. Give only what is required to find and remove your listing.
- Never pay to be removed. Legitimate opt-outs are free.
The usual opt-out process
Each site differs, but most follow the same pattern:
- Find your listing. Search the site for your name and state or town. Note the exact web address of your listing. There may be several.
- Find the opt-out page. It is usually linked in the footer, often called "Do not sell my information", "Opt out", "Privacy" or "Remove my information".
- Submit the request. Paste your listing's address, enter the email you set up, and complete any captcha.
- Confirm by email. Most sites send a link you must click.
- Check after a few days. Some remove quickly, others take weeks.
Well-known people-search sites in the US include Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, PeopleFinders, TruePeopleSearch and FastPeopleSearch. Many are linked, so removing yourself from one sometimes removes you from its partner sites too, but not always.
Your rights depend on where you live
- In the EU and UK, data protection law gives you a right to request erasure of personal data in many circumstances.
- In the US, several states, including California, give residents rights to request deletion or to opt out of the sale of their data, and some states run data broker registries.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules where you live.
Remove the results from Google too
Even after a site removes your page, Google may still show an old copy for a while. Google's "Results about you" tool lets you request removal of results that show your phone, address or email, and can alert you when new ones appear. See removing personal information from Google.
Why you have to keep checking
Data brokers refresh their data from public records and other sources. A listing you removed can reappear months later. Check every three months, or use a service that monitors for you.
When it is urgent
If you are dealing with stalking, harassment or threats, removal from these sites is only one step. Contact local police and a specialist support service, and consider asking them about extra protections for your address.
How Reputfy Personal helps
Reputfy Personal scans the major people-search sites and search engines for your name, prepares the removal requests for you to send, tracks which are done, and alerts you when a listing reappears. It turns a weekend of forms into a few clicks, every few months. It costs $15 a month.
