You cannot remove all your information from the internet, but you can remove it from the places that matter most
The internet does not have a delete button that works everywhere at once. Your information lives on hundreds of different websites, databases, and servers run by different companies with different rules. Some of that information you put there yourself — a Facebook profile, a photo you uploaded, a comment you made. Some of it was collected about you without your direct action — your address in a data broker's database, your phone number on a public records site, your name in a news archive.
You can remove information from places you control directly: your own social media accounts, email accounts, and websites you created. You can request removal from some companies that collected your data, though they are not always required to comply. You cannot remove information from archived news sites or from every data broker, but you can reduce how easily people find it and limit what new information gets collected going forward.
Key Takeaways
- Start by removing information from accounts you control — social media profiles, email accounts, photo sites, and any accounts you created yourself.
- Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages collect and sell your personal information; most allow you to request removal directly from their websites.
- Google Search can be asked to remove links to pages containing your personal information, which makes those pages harder to find even if the pages themselves still exist.
- Public records sites, news archives, and government databases rarely remove information, but you can limit what new information gets added by opting out of data collection where possible.
- Preventing future collection — through privacy settings, opting out of marketing lists, and being selective about what you share — is often more effective than trying to erase the past.
Remove information from accounts and websites you control
Start here because this is the only place where you have direct authority. Log into each account you own and look for a delete or deactivation option. For social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, you can usually find account deletion in Settings under Privacy or Account Management. Most platforms let you read your data first, then delete your account. Deletion is not always when ready — Facebook, for example, takes about 30 days to fully remove your information after you request it.
For email accounts, photo sharing sites like Flickr or Imgur, dating profiles, forums you joined, and any other accounts you created, follow the same path: Settings, then look for Delete Account, Close Account, or Deactivate Account. If you cannot find the option, search the site's help section for "delete my account" or "close my account." Some sites make this deliberately hard to find. If a site has no deletion option visible, look for a contact form and ask directly — they are required by law in some places to let you delete your account, though enforcement varies.
For personal websites, blogs, or portfolios you created, delete the content and consider taking the site offline entirely. If you used a service like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com, deleting your site through their dashboard will remove it from their servers, though search engines and the Internet Archive may still have copies.
Request removal from data brokers
Data brokers are companies that collect, buy, and sell information about you — your address, phone number, age, sometimes financial information or family members' names. They get this from public records, purchase history, online activity, and other sources. The major ones include Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, and Intelius. Most have a removal request process on their websites, though you usually have to search for it rather than finding it easily.
To remove yourself from a data broker, go to their website and look for "Remove My Information," "Privacy," or "Opt Out." You will usually need to enter your name and sometimes your address or phone number to find your listing. Once you find it, follow their removal process — this typically means filling out a form with your information and sometimes providing proof of identity. Removal usually takes one to four weeks. You may need to repeat this process with multiple brokers, as there are dozens of them and no single removal service covers all of them.
Some data brokers are harder to remove from than others. If you cannot find a removal option on a broker's website, look for their privacy policy or terms of service, which should list contact information. Send an email requesting removal and include your full name, current address, and any other information they have on file. Keep a record of which brokers you have contacted and when, because some require you to re-request removal periodically.
Ask Google to remove links to your personal information
Google Search does not control most of the websites it indexes, but it can remove links to pages from its search results. This does not delete the page itself — it just makes it much harder for someone to find. If your personal information appears on a page you do not control, you can ask Google to remove the link.
Go to Google's removal request tool at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals. You will need a Google account. Enter the full URL of the page containing your information and explain why you want it removed. Google will review your request, usually within a few days. If approved, the link disappears from Google Search results, though the page itself remains on the internet and may still appear in other search engines or if someone finds it directly.
This is useful for removing links to old social media profiles you have already deleted, outdated news articles about you, or pages with your address or phone number. It is less useful for removing information from active data broker sites, because those sites often reappear in search results as they update their databases. For those, the direct removal request to the broker itself is more effective.
Understand what you cannot remove
News archives, court records, and government databases rarely remove information. If your name appears in a news article, a court case, a property record, or a government database, you generally cannot force removal. These are considered part of the public record. Some news organizations will update or remove articles if they contain factual errors, but they are not required to delete articles straightforward because you want them gone.
The Internet Archive (archive.org) maintains snapshots of websites as they existed in the past. You can request that they remove snapshots of pages containing your personal information by filling out their removal form on their website. They usually honor these requests, though the removal process takes time.
Once information has been widely shared — posted on multiple sites, quoted in articles, or copied to forums — it becomes nearly impossible to remove completely. This is why prevention matters more than removal for information you have not yet shared.
Limit what new information gets collected about you
While you cannot erase the past entirely, you can slow down how much new information gets collected and added to the internet. Adjust privacy settings on social media to limit who can see your posts and profile information. On Facebook, go to Settings and Privacy, then review who can see your posts, who can contact you, and who can look up your profile by phone number or email. Do the same on Instagram, Twitter, and any other platform you use.
Opt out of data collection where you can. Many data brokers allow you to opt out of future collection even if you cannot remove past information. Some credit reporting agencies and marketing databases have opt-out options. The National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) reduces telemarketing calls. The Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service reduces physical mail advertising.
Be selective about what you share online. Every photo you post, every comment you make, every form you fill out adds to your digital footprint. The less you share publicly, the less there is to remove later. When you do share, use privacy settings to limit the audience rather than posting to everyone.
What to do if your information is used for fraud or harassment
If someone is using your personal information to impersonate you, commit fraud, or harass you, removal from data brokers and search results is not enough. Report the specific misuse to the platform where it is happening — Facebook, Instagram, a dating site, a shopping site — and ask them to remove the fraudulent account or content. Most platforms have abuse reporting tools.
If the misuse involves financial fraud, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If it involves identity theft, place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) by contacting any one of them — they are required to notify the others. Consider a credit freeze, which prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your permission.
If you are being harassed or stalked, document everything and report it to local law enforcement. Removal of your information from the internet may be part of your safety plan, but it should happen alongside other steps like changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and limiting what you share with people who have access to your accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove information from the internet?
Removal from accounts you control happens when ready or within 30 days depending on the platform. Data broker removal typically takes one to four weeks. Google Search removal takes a few days. Information on news sites and public records may never be removed. The more places your information appears, the longer the overall process takes.
Do I have to pay to remove my information?
No. Data brokers, Google, and most platforms offer removal for free. If a service charges money to remove your information, it is usually a scam or an unnecessary middleman service. You can do the work yourself at no cost, though it takes time.
Will removing my information from Google Search make it disappear from the internet?
No. Removing a link from Google Search only removes it from Google's search results. The page itself stays on the internet, and the information may still appear in other search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo. To actually remove the information, you need to delete it from the source — the website where it is hosted.
Can I remove my information from public records or news articles?
Usually not. Public records and news archives are considered part of the public record and are rarely removed. You can ask a news organization to correct factual errors or update an article, but they are not required to delete it. For public records, you may be able to request sealing or redaction in some cases, but this requires going through the relevant government agency or court.
What should I do if I find information about me that I did not put online?
First, identify where it came from — a data broker, a public records site, a forum, a news article. Then follow the appropriate removal process for that source. If it is on a data broker, request removal directly. If it is on a public records site, contact the government agency that maintains it. If it is on a forum or website you do not control, look for a contact form and ask the site owner to remove it, explaining why if necessary.