What you can actually remove from the internet

You cannot delete your name from the entire internet — there is no single off switch. But you can remove it from the places where most people find it: search engines, data broker websites, and social media. The realistic goal is to make your name harder to find and to remove it from the sites that collect and sell your personal information.

Removal works differently depending on where your name appears. A photo you posted to Facebook comes down through Facebook's own tools. Your address on a data broker site requires contacting that specific company. A news article about you stays on the news site's server unless the publication chooses to take it down. Search engines like Google can stop showing results, but they do not delete the original pages — they just stop pointing to them.

The fastest wins come from removing yourself from data brokers (companies that compile and sell your personal information) and from cleaning up your own social media accounts. Removing yourself from search results takes longer because Google processes removal requests in batches, and some results may reappear if the original page is updated.

Key Takeaways

  • Data brokers are the easiest target — they collect your address, phone number, and relatives' names and sell access to them, and most will remove you if you ask in writing or through their website.
  • Google and other search engines can stop showing results about you, but the original pages stay on the internet; you are removing the pointer, not the page itself.
  • Social media removal depends on what you posted — your own posts you can delete, but posts others tagged you in require asking the person who posted or reporting to the platform.
  • News articles and public records (court documents, property records, marriage licenses) rarely come down because they are considered part of the public record, even if they contain your personal information.
  • Removal is not a one-time task — new data brokers appear regularly, and search engines re-index pages, so you may need to repeat the process every few months or years.

Removing yourself from data broker websites

Data brokers are companies like Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, and Intelius that collect your address, phone number, relatives' names, and sometimes financial or legal information, then sell access to this data. They get it from public records, previous addresses you have lived at, and information you have given to other companies that sold it to them.

Most data brokers have an opt-out process on their website, though they make it deliberately hard to find. Go to the data broker's site, look for a link that says "Remove my information", "Privacy", or "Opt out" — usually at the bottom of the page. Click it and follow the steps, which typically ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions or uploading a photo of your ID. The process usually takes a few days to a few weeks.

If a data broker does not have an obvious opt-out link, send a written request to their mailing address (found in their privacy policy) asking them to remove your information. Include your full name, current address, and any previous addresses. Keep a copy of what you send. Some states, including California and Virginia, have laws that require data brokers to remove your information if you ask, so mention your state in the letter.

You will need to repeat this process for multiple brokers because there is no central list and no single removal that affects all of them. Common ones to check include Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Intelius, MyLife, and Pipl. A search for "data broker opt out" plus your name will show which sites are currently listing you.

Removing results from Google Search and other search engines

Google Search does not delete pages from the internet — it removes the link to them from its search results. This means your name will still appear on the original website, but when someone searches for you on Google, that page will not show up. Other search engines like Bing and Yahoo have similar processes.

Go to Google's removal request page at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals. Sign in with a Google account (create one if you do not have one). Click "New Request" and enter the URL of the page you want removed — you need the full web address, not just your name. Google will ask why you want it removed. Choose the reason that fits: outdated information, private information, or other.

Google processes removal requests in batches, usually within a few days to a week. Once removed, the result will stop appearing in Google Search for about six months. After that, if the original page is still on the internet and has not changed, Google may start showing it again. If the page is updated, you may need to request removal again.

For Bing, go to Bing Webmaster Tools and use their removal tool. For Yahoo, use their removal request form. If you want a page removed from all three, you will need to submit a request to each one separately. Note that removing a result from search engines does not remove it from the website itself — the page still exists; it just will not appear when someone searches.

Deleting or limiting your social media accounts

Social media is often where people find the most recent information about you. The fastest way to reduce what is visible is to delete old posts, limit who can see your profile, and remove tags that connect you to photos or posts you did not create.

On Facebook, go to your profile and review your timeline. Delete posts that contain personal information like your address, phone number, workplace, or family details. Adjust your privacy settings so that only friends can see your profile and posts — go to Settings, then Privacy, and change "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends only". Remove tags from photos and posts by clicking the tag and selecting "Remove tag".

On Instagram, delete old posts by going to your profile, clicking the three dots on a post, and selecting "Delete". Make your account private by going to Settings, then Privacy, and toggling "Private Account" on. This means only people you approve can follow you and see your posts.

On Twitter (now X), delete tweets by clicking the three dots on a tweet and selecting "Delete Tweet". You cannot make your account fully private, but you can limit who can reply to your tweets and who can see your likes. On LinkedIn, delete posts the same way — click the three dots and select "Delete".

If someone else posted a photo of you or tagged you in a post, you cannot delete it directly, but you can ask them to take it down or report it to the platform. Most platforms have a process for reporting posts that tag you without your consent or that contain information you want removed.

Handling news articles and public records

News articles and public records (court documents, property records, marriage licenses, arrest records) are rarely removed because they are considered part of the public record. However, you have some options depending on what the content is and where it appears.

For news articles, contact the publication directly and ask if they will remove or update the article. Explain why the information is outdated or inaccurate. Many publications will not remove articles, but some will add a note or update them if the information was wrong. This is especially true if the article contains a factual error about you.

For public records, you cannot remove them from government websites, but you may be able to request that they be sealed or redacted in some cases. This depends on the type of record and your state's laws. For example, some states allow you to seal certain criminal records if you were acquitted or if charges were dropped. Contact the court or agency that holds the record and ask about their process.

If a data broker or news site is republishing public records about you, you can still request removal from that specific site, even though the original record remains public. For example, you can ask a data broker to stop showing your address even though your address is a matter of public record.

Protecting yourself going forward

Once you have removed your information, take steps to prevent it from being collected again. Use privacy settings on all social media accounts and limit what you share publicly. When you sign up for services online, read the privacy policy and opt out of data sharing if the option is available.

Consider using a privacy-focused email address for online signups instead of your primary email, and use a different phone number for services that do not need your real one. This makes it harder for data brokers to connect information about you across multiple services.

Check yourself periodically — search your name on Google and on data broker sites every few months to see if new information has appeared. If it has, repeat the removal process. New data brokers appear regularly, and old ones sometimes re-add information, so removal is not a one-time task.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove my name from Google completely?

No. Google Search removal only stops Google from showing links to pages about you — it does not delete those pages from the internet or remove your name from other search engines. You would need to request removal from Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines separately. The original pages will still exist and can be found if someone knows the direct web address.

What if a data broker ignores my removal request?

If a data broker does not respond or refuses to remove your information, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Some states also have their own data broker laws with enforcement mechanisms. California and Virginia residents have stronger legal rights to removal. If the data broker is violating state law, you may also be able to pursue legal action.

Will removing my information from search results affect my credit or background checks?

No. Removing results from Google Search does not affect credit reports, background checks, or any official records. Those come from different sources — credit bureaus, courts, and employers — and are not controlled by search engines. Removing yourself from data brokers may reduce what appears in some background checks, but official background checks pull directly from court and government records.

How long does it take to remove my information?

Data brokers typically take a few days to a few weeks. Google Search removal takes a few days to a week. Social media deletion is when ready. News articles and public records may never be removed. If you are requesting removal from multiple data brokers, the process can take several weeks overall because you have to contact each one separately.

If I remove my information, will it stay removed?

Not necessarily. Data brokers may re-add your information if they collect it again from other sources. Google may re-index pages after six months if they are still on the internet. New data brokers appear regularly and may have already collected your information before you remove it from others. Plan to check and repeat the removal process every few months or when you notice new information appearing.