In California? Send one request to every data broker.
California's free Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) lets residents ask every registered data broker to delete their personal information with a single request. Do it first, then work through the list: it doesn't reach everything.
What it does
- You verify that you're a California resident once (with personal details or a Login.gov account) and submit one request. CalPrivacy says it takes less than 10 minutes.
- Optional extras, such as a mobile advertising ID or a vehicle number, help brokers match more of your records.
- Every data broker registered in California (over 600 of them) must download the requests at least every 45 days and delete the matching data, or treat the request as an opt-out from sale if they can't verify it.
- You don't need to renew it.
Timeline
- January 1, 2026: DROP opened to Californians.
- August 1, 2026: brokers had to start processing requests on a rolling 45-day cycle.
- 2028: the first independent audits of brokers' compliance.
Why you still need the list
- It only covers companies registered as data brokers in California.
- It covers personal information that isn't exempt. Much of what people-search sites show comes from public records, which privacy laws generally exempt, so your listing can stay up.
- Compliance has been uneven: in the first week of processing, the state agency reported that only about 30% of registered brokers had started.
So: send the DROP request, then start your list with the 18 sites that publish profiles. The site-by-site opt-outs work for everyone, not only Californians.