Complete Guide to Opting Out of Data Brokers in 2025

By State of Surveillance Published: 2025-11-18 Last Updated: 2025-11-18

💰 Who's Buying Your Data

Government agencies buy data instead of getting warrants. [ICE's surveillance tech stack](/articles/surveillance/ice-surveillance-arsenal-complete-tech-stack) includes access to data brokers. Insurance companies use your [smart home data](/articles/surveillance/41-billion-iot-devices-watching-you) to set premiums. [Palantir integrates](/articles/surveillance/palantir-government-surveillance-ecosystem-billions) data from hundreds of sources.

Data brokers have your address, phone, relatives, income, shopping habits, political affiliation, health conditions, and location history. They sell it for $0.50-$10 per record.

🎯 What Are Data Brokers?

Companies that collect, aggregate, and sell personal information about you without your explicit consent.

What They Know About You:

Basic Information

  • Full name, current and past addresses
  • Phone numbers (cell and landline)
  • Email addresses
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number (partial or full)

Relationships

  • Relatives and associates
  • Neighbors
  • Co-workers
  • Friends and acquaintances
  • Relationship status

Financial

  • Income estimates
  • Property ownership
  • Estimated home value
  • Bankruptcies/liens
  • Shopping habits

Sensitive Data

  • Political affiliation
  • Religious beliefs
  • Health conditions (inferred)
  • Location history
  • Voting records

Where They Get It:

  • Public records (property, voter registration, court records)
  • Websites you visit (tracking pixels, cookies)
  • Apps on your phone
  • Loyalty programs
  • Social media
  • Purchase history from retailers
  • Credit header information
  • [IoT devices and smart home data](/articles/surveillance/41-billion-iot-devices-watching-you)

🚨 Why This Matters

Real-World Consequences

Government surveillance: [ICE buys access to data brokers](/articles/surveillance/ice-surveillance-arsenal-complete-tech-stack) instead of getting warrants. Location data, associate networks, and movement patterns used for immigration enforcement.

Financial discrimination: Insurance companies use data broker info to deny coverage or raise rates based on your neighborhood, shopping habits, or inferred health conditions.

Identity theft: Your full profile available for $5-50. Thieves use it to open accounts, file fake tax returns, access medical care in your name.

Stalking and harassment: Domestic abusers, stalkers, and harassers use people-search sites to find victims who've relocated.

Scams: Detailed personal info makes phishing emails and phone scams more convincing.

📋 The Complete Opt-Out List

Tier 1: Major People-Search Sites (Do These First)

1. Spokeo

Opt-out page: spokeo.com/optout

Process:

  1. Search for your listing on Spokeo
  2. Copy the URL of your profile
  3. Go to opt-out page and paste URL
  4. Enter email for confirmation
  5. Verify via email link

Time to removal: 24-72 hours

Note: Must repeat for each variation of your name/address

2. Whitepages

Opt-out page: whitepages.com/suppression-requests

Process:

  1. Search for yourself on Whitepages
  2. Call the number listed OR use phone verification online
  3. Record verification code
  4. Fill out opt-out form
  5. Submit request

Time to removal: 24 hours

3. BeenVerified

Opt-out page: beenverified.com/app/optout/search

Process:

  1. Search for your record
  2. Select correct record
  3. Enter email
  4. Verify via email

Time to removal: 24-48 hours

Note: Also owns NumberGuru, Ownerly, PeopleLooker

4. Intelius

Opt-out page: intelius.com/opt-out/submit/

Process:

  1. Search Intelius for your listing
  2. Copy profile URL
  3. Fill out opt-out form with URL
  4. Verify via email

Time to removal: 72 hours

Note: Also owns Instant Checkmate, TruthFinder, US Search

5. Radaris

Opt-out page: radaris.com/page/how-to-remove

Process:

  1. Search for yourself
  2. Click "Control Information"
  3. Select records to remove
  4. Enter email and verification code

Time to removal: 24-48 hours

6. PeopleFinders

Opt-out page: peoplefinders.com/opt-out

Process:

  1. Search for profile
  2. Copy URL
  3. Submit opt-out form
  4. May require ID verification (driver's license upload)

Time to removal: 5-7 business days

7. MyLife

Opt-out page: mylife.com/privacy-policy (scroll to "California Residents")

Process:

  1. Email [email protected] with removal request
  2. Include full name, current address, URL of listing
  3. May require identity verification

Time to removal: 7-14 days

8. FastPeopleSearch

Opt-out page: fastpeoplesearch.com/removal

Process:

  1. Search for your listing
  2. Copy exact URL
  3. Paste into opt-out form
  4. Complete CAPTCHA

Time to removal: 72 hours

Tier 2: Credit Bureaus & Marketing Lists

9. Experian (Opt Out of Pre-Approved Credit Offers)

Website: optoutprescreen.com

Phone: 1-888-567-8688

What it does: Stops credit bureaus from selling your info to credit card companies

Covers: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis

10. LexisNexis

Opt-out page: consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/request

Process: Create account, request file, opt out of marketing

Note: Major data broker for insurance and law enforcement

11. Acxiom

Opt-out page: isapps.acxiom.com/optout/optout.aspx

What they do: One of the largest data brokers - collects from thousands of sources

Tier 3: Additional Major Brokers

Complete list of 85+ data brokers with opt-out instructions:

⏰ Time Investment Reality Check

Manual Opt-Out Time

  • Top 10 brokers: 3-5 hours
  • Top 50 brokers: 15-25 hours
  • 85+ brokers: 40-60 hours

Plus ongoing monitoring

The Ongoing Problem

  • Data refreshes every 30-90 days
  • You reappear unless they use suppression lists
  • New brokers pop up constantly
  • Must repeat quarterly

It's a never-ending battle

Automated Service Cost

  • Incogni: $7.49/month
  • DeleteMe: $10.75/month
  • OneRep: $8.33/month

They handle opt-outs and monitoring

🤖 Automated Removal Services (Pros & Cons)

Top Services Comparison

Incogni

Price: $89.88/year ($7.49/month)

Covers: 195+ data brokers

Pros:

  • Most comprehensive coverage
  • Quarterly scans and removals
  • Progress dashboard

Cons:

  • Annual commitment
  • Limited to US brokers

DeleteMe

Price: $129/year ($10.75/month)

Covers: 30+ major brokers

Pros:

  • Oldest service (since 2010)
  • White-glove support
  • Quarterly reports

Cons:

  • More expensive
  • Fewer brokers than Incogni

OneRep

Price: $99.96/year ($8.33/month)

Covers: 232 data broker sites

Pros:

  • Most sites covered
  • Monthly monitoring
  • Family plans available

Cons:

  • Newer service
  • Less established reputation

DIY vs. Automated: Which Is Right for You?

Choose DIY manual removal if:

  • You have 40-60 hours to invest initially
  • You're comfortable with repetitive tasks
  • You'll commit to quarterly re-checking
  • Budget is extremely tight

Choose automated service if:

  • Your time is worth more than $100-150/year
  • You want ongoing monitoring
  • You need comprehensive coverage
  • You're high-risk (domestic violence survivor, public figure, etc.)

Best approach: Do top 10 manually (free), then use automated service for comprehensive coverage

🇨🇦 California's DELETE Act (Coming 2026)

Game Changer for California Residents

What it is: Law requiring all registered data brokers to provide single opt-out mechanism

When it launches: January 2026

How it works:

  • Visit Deletion and Request Opt-Out Portal (DROP)
  • Submit ONE request
  • Applies to ALL registered data brokers simultaneously
  • Completely free
  • Brokers must honor within 30 days

Requirements for brokers:

  • Must register with California Privacy Protection Agency
  • Must process deletion requests
  • Cannot charge fees
  • $2,500-$7,500 penalties per violation

Limitation: Only works for California residents

If you're not in California: Advocate for similar laws in your state

🛡️ Beyond Opt-Outs: Preventing Data Collection

Stop New Data From Being Collected

Online Behavior:

  • ☐ Use privacy-focused browser (Firefox with uBlock Origin)
  • ☐ Block third-party cookies
  • ☐ Use privacy-focused search (DuckDuckGo, Startpage)
  • ☐ VPN for browsing (hides IP address)
  • ☐ Delete or deactivate unused social media accounts
  • ☐ Use burner email addresses for signups (SimpleLogin, AnonAddy)

Physical World:

  • ☐ Opt out of loyalty programs (they sell purchase data)
  • ☐ Use cash for purchases when possible
  • ☐ Decline to provide phone/email at checkout
  • ☐ Unsubscribe from marketing emails
  • ☐ Remove yourself from voter registration data sharing (where legal)

Smart Home & IoT:

  • ☐ Disable telemetry on [smart home devices](/articles/surveillance/41-billion-iot-devices-watching-you)
  • ☐ Use local storage instead of cloud
  • ☐ Review app permissions monthly
  • ☐ Limit which devices connect to internet

📅 Maintenance Schedule

If Doing Manual Opt-Outs:

Monthly:

  • Check top 3-5 people-search sites for reappearance
  • Google yourself to find new listings

Quarterly:

  • Re-opt-out from major brokers
  • Check for new data brokers
  • Update monitoring spreadsheet

Annually:

  • Complete review of all 85+ brokers
  • Update strategy based on what's reappeared
  • Consider switching to automated service if too time-consuming

Tracking Your Progress:

Create spreadsheet with:

  • Broker name
  • Date opted out
  • Method used
  • Confirmation received
  • Last checked
  • Current status

⚠️ Special Situations

If You're a Domestic Violence Survivor

Immediate actions:

  1. File for Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) in your state
  2. Use automated removal service (DeleteMe offers special pricing for survivors)
  3. Contact National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
  4. Ask local prosecutor about Safe at Home programs
  5. Never use your real name online

If You're Undocumented or At Risk of ICE Detention

Critical notes:

  • [ICE buys data broker information](/articles/surveillance/ice-surveillance-arsenal-complete-tech-stack) including location history and associate networks
  • Opt out immediately from location-tracking brokers
  • Use cash only (credit cards create location records)
  • Minimize digital footprint
  • Don't use loyalty programs
  • Consider using prepaid phones

If You're a Public Figure or Activist

Additional precautions:

  • Use LLC or trust for property ownership (hides your name)
  • Get virtual mailbox service (hides physical address)
  • Use pseudonym when possible
  • Separate professional and personal identities
  • Monitor for doxxing attempts
  • Be aware of [political surveillance programs](/articles/surveillance/political-surveillance-trump-2025-critics-targeted) targeting activists

💀 The Uncomfortable Truth

You Can't Completely Disappear

Data brokers pull from public records:

  • Property ownership (county assessor records)
  • Voter registration (public in most states)
  • Court records (lawsuits, divorces, bankruptcies)
  • Professional licenses
  • Business registrations

As long as you exist in modern society, some data will be public. The goal is damage control, not invisibility.

What you CAN control:

  • People-search sites aggregating public records
  • Marketing databases
  • Purchase history tracking
  • Location data collection
  • Social media scraping

What you CAN'T control:

  • Public government records
  • Court filings
  • News articles mentioning you
  • [Clearview AI scraping the entire internet](/articles/surveillance/meta-pays-1-4-billion-scanning-faces)

🎯 Quick Start Action Plan

Week 1: Foundation (3-4 hours)

  1. Opt out of Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified
  2. Call 1-888-567-8688 to opt out of credit offers
  3. Google yourself, screenshot all results
  4. Create tracking spreadsheet

Week 2: Expansion (3-4 hours)

  1. Opt out of Intelius, Radaris, PeopleFinders
  2. Submit LexisNexis and Acxiom opt-outs
  3. Check if any removed yet

Week 3-4: Deep Cleaning (4-6 hours)

  1. Work through BADBOOL list (top 20 brokers)
  2. Set up email filters for confirmation emails
  3. Document which sites require ID verification

Month 2: Decision Point

After 30 days, evaluate:

  • How much info was removed?
  • How much time did it take?
  • Is it sustainable to continue manually?
  • Should you subscribe to automated service?

🎯 The Bottom Line

Data brokers sell your information to ICE, insurance companies, stalkers, scammers, and anyone with a credit card.

Manual opt-outs work but require: 40-60 hours initially, quarterly maintenance, ongoing vigilance

Automated services ($90-130/year) handle: 30-232 brokers, quarterly monitoring, ongoing removals

California DELETE Act (2026): One-click removal for all registered brokers - but only for California residents

Best strategy:

  1. Manually opt out of top 10 brokers (free, 3-5 hours)
  2. Google yourself monthly to catch new listings
  3. If budget allows, subscribe to automated service for comprehensive coverage
  4. Stop feeding new data: use privacy tools, decline loyalty programs, use cash

Perfect privacy is impossible. But you can make your data more expensive to access than it's worth.

📚 References

  1. Incogni - Opt-Out Guides for 85+ Data Brokers
  2. Cybernews - How to Opt Out of Data Broker Sites in 2025
  3. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Data Broker Database
  4. Big Ass Data Broker Opt Out List (Updated Halloween 2025)
  5. OneRep - How To Remove Yourself From Data Broker Sites [2025]
  6. Aura - How To Remove Yourself From Data Broker Sites