You cannot remove your name from the entire internet, but you can remove it from the places where it matters most
Your name appears online in hundreds of places — news archives, court records, social media, business directories, and data broker sites that collect and sell personal information. You cannot delete all of it, and some of it (like court records) is public by law. What you can do is remove your information from data brokers, opt out of people-search sites, request removal from search engines, and control what you post yourself.
The fastest results come from targeting data brokers first, since they feed information to many other sites. After that, you can request removal from individual search results and social media. Some removals are permanent; others require you to renew your request every few years.
Key Takeaways
- Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages buy and sell your personal information — removing yourself from these sites stops the information from spreading to dozens of other places.
- Google, Bing, and other search engines let you request removal of specific pages from their search results, though the pages themselves stay online.
- Social media sites have their own removal processes, and you can delete or make private posts that contain your personal information.
- Court records, property records, and news archives are public by law and cannot be removed, but you can request removal from data brokers that republish them.
- Removal requests often take weeks to process, and some sites require you to verify your identity by uploading a government ID.
Remove yourself from major data brokers
Data brokers are companies that collect your name, address, phone number, email, and sometimes financial or health information, then sell it to other businesses. They get this data from public records, social media, and other brokers. Removing yourself from the largest ones stops your information from spreading further.
The biggest data brokers include Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, and Intelius. Each has its own removal process, usually found in a "Privacy" or "Remove My Information" link at the bottom of their website. Most require you to enter your name and location, then confirm your identity — usually by uploading a photo of your driver's license or passport. Some send a verification email instead.
After you submit a removal request, the site typically removes your listing within two to four weeks. However, many data brokers re-add your information after six months to a year when they refresh their databases with new public records. You may need to repeat the removal process annually.
Request removal from Google and Bing search results
Removing your information from data brokers does not automatically remove it from Google or Bing. You can request removal directly from search engines using their removal tools.
For Google, go to Google Search Console (search.google.com/search-console) and sign in with your Google account. Click "Removals" in the left menu, then "New Request." Enter the full URL of the page you want removed — for example, the exact link to your profile on a data broker site. Google will remove it from search results within days, though the page itself stays online. The removal lasts about six months; after that, the page may reappear in results if the data broker re-adds your information.
For Bing, use the Bing Webmaster Tools removal tool at webmaster.bing.com. The process is similar: sign in, find the removal section, and submit the URL you want removed from Bing's search results.
Delete or make private your social media accounts and posts
Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn are major sources of personal information online. You have two options: delete your account entirely, or keep it but remove posts and limit who can see your information.
To delete a Facebook account, go to Settings, then "Deactivation and Deletion," and choose "Delete Account." Facebook keeps your data for 90 days in case you change your mind, then deletes it. For Instagram, go to Settings, select "Account," then "Delete Account." Twitter lets you deactivate your account from Settings and Privacy, then "Deactivate Your Account."
If you want to keep your account, delete individual posts that contain your address, phone number, or other personal details. On Facebook and Instagram, you can also change your privacy settings so only friends see your posts, or make your profile completely private. On LinkedIn, you can hide your profile from search engines by going to Settings, then "Visibility," and unchecking "Allow LinkedIn members to see your public profile."
Handle public records you cannot remove
Court records, property records, and news articles are public by law and cannot be deleted from government websites or news archives. However, you can still reduce how easily people find them.
Request removal of these records from data brokers that republish them — for example, if a data broker site shows your court case or property deed, you can ask that specific broker to remove it. You cannot remove the original record from the court or county assessor's website, but you can reduce the number of places it appears online.
For news articles, contact the publication directly and ask if they will remove or update the article. Most news sites keep archives online permanently, but some will remove articles about minor incidents or update them with new information if you make a request.
Monitor your name and set up alerts
After you remove your information, new data brokers may collect it again from public records or other sources. Setting up a Google Alert for your name lets you know when your information appears in new places online.
Go to google.com/alerts, enter your name in quotes (for example, "John Smith"), and choose how often you want to receive alerts — daily, weekly, or as it happens. Google will email you whenever your name appears in new search results. When you see your information on a new data broker site, you can request removal from that site using the same process.
Some people use paid monitoring services like Reputation.com or MyLife that automate removal requests across multiple data brokers, though these services charge a monthly fee and do not remove information that public records sites cannot remove.
Prevent your information from being collected in the future
You cannot stop all data collection, but you can reduce how much new information gets added to data broker databases.
Limit what you post on social media — avoid sharing your phone number, address, or birthdate publicly. Adjust your privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn so only friends or connections can see your profile. When you sign up for websites, use a separate email address instead of your main one, and avoid entering optional fields like your phone number or address.
When you buy or sell property, your information becomes part of the public record and will be collected by data brokers — you cannot prevent this. However, some states allow you to file a homestead exemption or privacy request with the county assessor to keep your address off public property records. Contact your county assessor's office to ask what options are available in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove my name from search results?
Google and Bing usually remove pages from search results within a few days of your request. Data brokers typically take two to four weeks. Some sites require you to verify your identity first, which can add another week or two.
Will my information stay removed permanently?
No. Data brokers refresh their databases regularly and may re-add your information after six months to a year. You may need to submit removal requests again. Search engine removals last about six months before the page can reappear in results.
Can I remove my information from court records or property records?
No, these are public records maintained by government agencies and cannot be deleted. You can request removal from data brokers that republish them, which reduces how many places your information appears online.
What if a data broker asks me to upload my ID to verify my identity?
This is a standard security step to prevent someone else from removing your information without permission. Upload a clear photo of your driver's license or passport. Data brokers are required to delete the ID photo after verifying your identity.
Do I need to pay a service to remove my information?
No. All major data brokers and search engines offer free removal. Paid services like Reputation.com automate the process across multiple sites, but you can do it yourself for free by visiting each site individually.