You cannot remove everything, but you can remove a lot

Complete removal is not possible — once information spreads across the internet, some copies will stay. But you can remove your data from the places that matter most: search results, social media, data broker sites, and the accounts you actually use. The process takes time and involves contacting different organizations, because there is no single "delete me" button for the entire internet.

Start with the sites where you have direct control — your own accounts and profiles. Then move to search engines and data brokers, which hold information about you without your active participation. Finally, address specific websites that published information about you. Each step removes your data from a different layer of how the internet works.

Key Takeaways

  • Delete or deactivate accounts you created yourself first, since you control those directly and they often feed into search results.
  • Request removal from Google Search and Bing by using their removal tools, which takes days to weeks rather than months.
  • Data brokers like Whitepages, Spokeo, and BeenVerified require individual removal requests on each site, though some states now allow bulk removal.
  • Websites that published information about you may remove it if you ask, but have no legal obligation to do so unless the information is false or violates their policies.
  • Information you posted yourself on social media is harder to fully erase because other people may have shared or screenshotted it.

Delete the accounts and profiles you created

Start here because these are the easiest to control and they feed into search results. Go through your email and think about every account you have ever made: social media, email addresses, old job sites, forums, dating apps, photo sharing, shopping accounts. Many of these still exist even if you have not used them in years.

For each account, look for a "Delete Account" or "Deactivate Account" option in settings. Do not just stop using it — actually delete it. Deactivation often keeps your data on the company's servers; deletion removes it more thoroughly. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Gmail all have deletion options, though they usually make you wait 30 days before the deletion is final (in case you change your mind). During that waiting period, the account is hidden but not yet gone.

For old accounts you cannot remember the password to, use the "Forgot Password" feature to reset it, then delete the account. If you cannot access the email address the account was tied to, contact the site's support team and explain that you want to delete the account. Most will help you if you can prove you own the account by answering security questions or providing other identifying information.

Remove yourself from Google Search and Bing

Search engines index pages across the internet and show them in results. You cannot delete a page from the internet itself, but you can ask Google and Bing to stop showing it in their search results. This does not remove the page — it just hides it from search.

For Google, use the Google Search Console removal tool. Go to google.com/webmasters/tools/remove-urls, sign in with your Google account, and request removal of specific URLs. You can remove individual pages or entire websites. Google usually processes these requests within days. The removal lasts about six months, after which the page may reappear in search results if it is still online.

For Bing, use the Bing Webmaster Tools at bing.com/webmasters. Sign in, go to "Crawl Control," and request URL removal. Bing works similarly to Google — it hides the page from search results but does not delete it from the internet.

If you want a page removed permanently, you need to contact the website that hosts it and ask them to delete it. That is a separate step covered below.

Request removal from data broker websites

Data brokers are companies that collect and sell personal information about you: your address, phone number, age, family members, property records, and sometimes financial information. They get this data from public records, previous data breaches, and other brokers. Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, when ready Checkmate, and PeopleFinder are common ones, but there are dozens more.

Each data broker has its own removal process, and you have to contact them individually. Most have an "opt out" or "remove my information" link on their website, usually at the bottom of the page. Click it, enter your information so they can find your listing, and request removal. Some brokers remove you when ready; others take weeks. Many will remove you for free but charge money to remove you faster.

Keep records of which brokers you contacted and when. Many will re-list your information after a few months, so you may need to request removal again. If a broker ignores your removal request, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Some states now allow you to submit a single removal request that applies to multiple brokers at once. California, Virginia, and a few others have laws requiring data brokers to honor bulk removal requests. Check your state's attorney general website to see if this option is available where you live.

Contact websites that published information about you

If a website published information about you — a news article, a forum post, a business listing, a mugshot site — you can ask them to remove it. They are not legally required to do so unless the information is false, violates their policies, or you have a specific legal right to removal (like a right to be forgotten in some countries).

Start by finding the website's contact form or support email. Look for a "Contact Us" link or check the website's terms of service for a removal request process. Explain clearly what information you want removed and why. Be specific: include the URL, the exact text or image, and your reason for requesting removal.

If the website ignores you, try contacting the site's hosting provider or domain registrar and filing a complaint. You can also file a complaint with the FTC if the site is collecting or publishing information in violation of privacy laws. For mugshot sites specifically, many states now have laws requiring removal if you were not convicted or if your case was dismissed — contact your state's attorney general for details.

Handle information other people posted about you

This is the hardest category because you do not control it. If someone else posted your photo, your address, or information about you on social media, a forum, or a website, you cannot straightforward delete it yourself.

Your first step is to ask the person who posted it to take it down. If they refuse or you cannot contact them, report it to the platform. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and most other sites have reporting tools for content that violates their policies. You can report photos of you without your consent, posts that reveal your personal information, or content that harasses you. The platform will review it and may remove it if it breaks their rules.

If the content is on a website you do not control and the platform will not remove it, you have limited options. You can ask the website owner directly to remove it. You can file a complaint with the FTC if the information is being used for fraud or harassment. In some cases, you may have legal grounds to sue for defamation or invasion of privacy, though that is expensive and slow.

Protect your information going forward

Removing information you have already shared is one part of the problem. The other part is stopping new information from spreading in the first place.

Be selective about what you post online. Assume anything you share can be screenshotted, shared, or archived by someone else. Adjust your privacy settings on social media so only people you trust can see your posts. On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you can make your profile private, limit who sees your posts, and control who can tag you in photos.

When you sign up for new accounts or services, read what data they collect and how they use it. Many sites have options to opt out of data sharing or to limit how your information is used. Some will sell your data to brokers unless you tell them not to — check their privacy policy and opt out if that option exists.

Use a separate email address for accounts you do not care about keeping long-term. This keeps your main email address off fewer websites and makes it easier to delete accounts later without losing access to important services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to remove information from the internet?

Search engines usually process removal requests within days to a week. Data brokers vary widely — some remove you when ready, others take weeks or months. Websites may never remove information, or may take weeks to respond. Complete removal across all sites typically takes several months of ongoing requests.

Can I remove information that is in public records?

Public records like property ownership, court documents, and business licenses are maintained by government agencies and cannot be removed from those official sources. However, you can request removal from data brokers and websites that republish that information. Some states allow you to seal certain records if you meet specific criteria — contact your state's court system or attorney general for details.

What if a website ignores my removal request?

Document your request with a screenshot or email confirmation. If the site continues to ignore you after multiple requests, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For specific types of content like revenge porn or doxxing, contact local law enforcement. For defamatory content, consult a lawyer about your legal options.

Do I need to pay to remove my information?

Removal from search engines and most websites is free. Data brokers often offer free removal but may charge a fee for faster processing. Be cautious of services that charge money to remove your information — you can do most of this work yourself for free, though it takes more time and effort.

Will my information stay removed once I delete it?

Not necessarily. Data brokers often re-list your information after a few months, so you may need to request removal again periodically. Search engine removals last about six months. Information on websites you do not control may reappear if someone reposts it. Staying removed requires ongoing attention, especially for data brokers.