What you can actually remove from the internet
You cannot delete information from the internet entirely, but you can remove it from the places where people find it. Search engines like Google can stop showing your name, address, phone number, or email in results. Websites can take down pages about you. Data brokers — companies that collect and sell personal information — can remove your details from their databases. What you cannot do is erase something that someone else posted about you on their own website or social media account, unless that person agrees to delete it or a court orders them to.
The realistic goal is to make your information harder to find. Most people stop searching after the first few results. If you get your name off Google's search results and off the major data broker sites, you have solved the problem for the vast majority of people looking for you.
Key Takeaways
- Google can remove your personal information from search results through a removal request, which usually takes a few days to a few weeks.
- Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages will remove your information if you request it directly, though the process varies by site.
- You can ask websites to take down pages about you, but they are not required to comply unless the content is illegal or violates their terms of service.
- Removing information from one search engine or data broker does not remove it from others, so you will need to contact multiple sites.
- Information you posted yourself on social media, dating sites, or forums can be deleted by you, but archived versions may still exist elsewhere.
How to remove your information from Google search results
Go to Google's removal request page at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals. Sign in with a Google account. Enter the exact URL of the page you want removed — not just your name, but the full web address of the specific page that contains your information.
Google will remove the page from its search results within a few days to a few weeks. The page itself stays on the website where it was posted; Google just stops showing it when someone searches. If the page gets updated or the website owner resubmits it to Google, it may reappear in results.
This works best for pages you own or control — your own website, a profile you created, or a page a website agreed to take down. If you are trying to remove a page someone else posted about you, you will need to contact the website owner first and ask them to delete it. Only after they refuse should you ask Google to remove it from search results.
Removing your data from broker websites
Data brokers collect information from public records, social media, and other sources, then sell access to it. The major ones are Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, Intelius, and PeopleFinder. Each site has its own removal process, and you have to contact each one separately.
Start with Spokeo.com/optout. Enter your name and state. If you appear in their database, you will see a removal link. Click it and follow the steps — usually you confirm your email address and the listing disappears within a few days. BeenVerified has a removal page at beenverified.com/opt-out. Whitepages uses whitepages.com/suppression-request. Intelius and PeopleFinder have similar pages on their sites.
Some brokers make removal difficult on purpose — they may ask you to mail a notarized letter or call a phone number instead of offering an online form. If a site makes removal unreasonably hard, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC has taken action against brokers that hide their removal options.
Removing information you posted yourself
If you posted your information on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other social media site, you can delete it yourself. Go to your profile, find the post, and select delete or remove. The post disappears from the site when ready.
Older versions of deleted posts may still exist in the Internet Archive (archive.org). You can request removal from the Archive by going to archive.org/about/exclude.php and submitting your domain or URL. The Archive usually honors removal requests within a few weeks.
Dating profiles, classified ads, and forum posts work the same way — log in, find your post, and delete it. If you cannot remember which sites you used or no longer have access to the account, contact the site's customer service and explain that you want your account and all associated posts deleted.
Asking websites to remove pages about you
If a website published information about you and you want it taken down, contact the website owner directly. Look for a contact form, email address, or "About Us" page. Explain clearly what page you want removed and why — for example, if the information is inaccurate, outdated, or violates your privacy.
Website owners are not legally required to remove content about you unless it is defamatory (provably false and damaging to your reputation), violates copyright, or breaks their own terms of service. Many will remove outdated information as a courtesy, especially if you explain that it is no longer accurate.
If the website ignores your request and the content is defamatory, you may have grounds for a lawsuit, but that is expensive and slow. A more practical option is to ask Google to remove the page from search results even if the page itself stays online. Most people will not find it if it does not show up in Google.
Dealing with mugshots and arrest records online
Websites that publish mugshots and arrest records are legal but often predatory — they post your information and then charge you money to remove it. This is called a mugshot extortion site. Many states have passed laws against this practice, but it still happens.
Do not pay these sites. Instead, contact them and request removal for free. If they refuse, file a complaint with your state's attorney general office. You can also ask Google to remove the pages from search results using the removal tool described above.
If your arrest was expunged or dismissed, you may have a legal right to have the record removed. Contact your local court or a lawyer in your state to learn what your options are. Some states allow you to petition for removal of arrest records after a certain amount of time has passed.
What to do about information you cannot remove
Some information will stay on the internet no matter what you do. If someone posted about you on their own website or social media account and refuses to delete it, you cannot force them to remove it unless what they posted is illegal — for example, if it is a threat, harassment, or defamation that you can prove in court.
Your realistic options are to ask Google to stop showing it in search results, to post your own positive information online to push negative results down the page, or to accept that it exists and move on. Many people find that older negative information naturally drops out of search results over time as newer content takes its place.
If the information is harassment or a threat, report it to the website where it was posted and to local law enforcement. If it is defamatory, consult a lawyer about your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove information from Google?
Google usually processes removal requests within a few days to a few weeks. You can check the status of your request in Google Search Console. The time varies depending on how busy Google's team is and whether the page still exists on the original website.
Will removing my information from Google remove it from Bing and other search engines?
No. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo all have separate removal processes. You will need to submit removal requests to each search engine separately. Bing's removal tool is at bing.com/webmaster/tools/remove.
Can I remove information from Wikipedia?
Wikipedia has its own removal process. You can request that a page about you be deleted by going to the page and clicking "More" then "Delete." Wikipedia's editors will review your request. They rarely delete pages about public figures, but they may remove personal information like phone numbers or addresses from existing pages.
What if a data broker keeps reposting my information after I request removal?
Some brokers re-collect information from public records and repost it. If this happens, request removal again. If a broker repeatedly ignores removal requests, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can also consult a lawyer about whether you have grounds for legal action.
Does removing my information from the internet protect me from identity theft?
Removing your information from search results and data brokers makes it harder for criminals to find your details, but it does not prevent identity theft entirely. Identity thieves can get information from data breaches, phishing, or by stealing mail. Removing public information is one layer of protection, but you should also monitor your credit reports and use strong passwords.