What you can actually delete, and what you can't

You cannot delete information that is already public record — court documents, property deeds, business filings, arrest records. Those live in government databases and you have no legal right to remove them. You also cannot force social media platforms, news sites, or forums to take down posts about you unless they violate specific policies like impersonation or non-consensual intimate images.

What you can delete or reduce is personal data held by data brokers, background check companies, and people-search websites. These are private companies that collect and sell your address, phone number, email, family members' names, and sometimes financial or health hints. You can also remove information you posted yourself on platforms you control, and you can request that search engines stop showing certain pages about you.

The realistic goal is not to vanish from the internet entirely — that is not possible — but to make yourself harder to find and to remove your information from the databases that sell it to strangers.

Key Takeaways

  • Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages let you request removal directly through their websites, usually for free, though the process takes weeks.
  • You can ask Google to remove your address, phone number, or email from search results using their removal tool, which works faster than contacting the original website.
  • Removing information you posted yourself — old social media accounts, blog posts, photos — is the fastest deletion you can do and gives you the most control.
  • Some states including California, Virginia, and Colorado give you the right to request that companies delete personal data they hold about you, with a formal process and timeline.
  • Deletion is not permanent; data brokers re-collect your information over time, so you may need to submit removal requests again every year or two.

How to remove yourself from major data broker websites

The largest data brokers operate removal pages where you can request deletion. The process is usually free but slow — expect two to eight weeks. You will need to verify your identity, often by uploading a photo of your ID or answering security questions about your history.

Spokeo (spokeo.com/removal) lets you search for yourself first, then click "Remove" on your listing. You will be asked to verify your identity and confirm your email. BeenVerified (beenverified.com/app/remove) has a similar process — search, find your profile, request removal, verify identity. Whitepages (whitepages.com/suppression) allows you to suppress your listing from their public search, though the data remains in their system.

TruthFinder, when ready Checkmate, and PeopleLooker all have removal pages accessible by searching "[site name] remove my information" or "[site name] removal request". Each one asks for identity verification. Some will remove you from their public site but keep your data for background check purposes — read their removal policy carefully to understand what "removal" means for that specific company.

If a data broker does not have a visible removal page, look for their privacy policy or terms of service, find a contact email, and send a written request stating your full name, current address, and date of birth. Ask them to delete your personal information and confirm deletion in writing. Keep a copy of your request and their response.

Removing your information from Google Search results

Google Search does not host the information — it only links to it. But you can ask Google to stop showing certain results about you in search results, which is faster than getting the original website to delete the page.

Go to google.com/webmasters/tools/removals and sign in with your Google account. Click "New Request" and enter the full URL of the page you want removed — for example, the exact link to your profile on a data broker site. Select the reason: usually "The page contains personal information I want removed" or "The page contains a photo of me I want removed".

Google will review your request within days. If approved, the page will stop appearing in Google Search results, though it will still exist on the original website. The removal lasts about six months, after which Google may re-index it if the page is still online. If the original website deletes the page, you do not need to do anything — Google will eventually remove it from search results on its own.

This tool works for any website, not just data brokers. If a news article, old blog post, or forum thread about you appears in Google Search and you want it hidden, you can request removal here.

Deleting accounts and posts you control

Information you posted yourself — social media profiles, old blog posts, photos on photo-sharing sites — is the fastest to delete because you have direct control.

Facebook: Go to Settings > Your Information > Deactivation and Deletion. Choose "Delete Account" (not deactivate). Facebook will delete your profile, photos, and posts within 30 days, though some information may remain in backups for longer. Instagram: Settings > Account > Delete Account. Twitter/X: Settings > Account > Deactivate Your Account. TikTok: Settings > Account > Delete Account.

For old blog posts or articles you wrote, log into the platform and delete them individually, or contact the site owner if you no longer have access. For photos on Flickr, Imgur, or other photo sites, delete them from your account. For old email addresses you no longer use, you can request deletion from the email provider — Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook all have account deletion processes.

Before deleting an account, read your data if you want to keep it. Most platforms offer a data read option in settings. Once deleted, recovery is limited or impossible.

State privacy laws that give you deletion rights

If you live in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, or Utah, you have a legal right to request that companies delete personal information they hold about you. Other states are adding similar laws. These are different from data broker removal — they explore to any company that collects your data, including retailers, apps, and websites.

To use these rights, find the company's privacy policy and look for a "Your Privacy Rights" or "Data Deletion Request" section. Some have a webform; others ask you to email a privacy contact. You will need to verify your identity. The company has 30 to 45 days to respond and delete your information, though they can refuse if they have a legal reason to keep it.

California's law (CCPA) is the oldest and most detailed. Virginia's (VCDPA), Colorado's (CPA), Connecticut's (CTDPA), and Utah's (UCPA) are similar but have different timelines and exceptions. If you are unsure whether your state has a law, search "[your state] consumer privacy law" or check the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) website for a current list.

Why deleted information comes back

Data brokers do not stop collecting your information when you request removal. They gather data from public records, court documents, utility companies, and other brokers. Within months or a year, your information reappears in their databases because they have re-collected it from these sources.

This is why deletion is not a one-time task. You may need to submit removal requests again every 12 to 24 months. Some people use paid services like DeleteMe or OneRep that handle removal requests on your behalf and monitor for re-listing, though these cost money and do not prevent re-collection.

The most effective long-term strategy is to limit what information is publicly available in the first place — opt out of public records if your state allows it, use privacy settings on social media, and avoid posting your address or phone number online.

What to do if a website refuses to remove your information

If a data broker ignores your removal request or claims they cannot remove you, document everything: save copies of your request, the date you sent it, and any response. Then escalate.

Contact your state's attorney general office — most have a consumer protection division that investigates complaints about data brokers. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not resolve individual cases but uses complaints to identify patterns and take enforcement action against companies.

If you live in a state with a privacy law, you may have the right to sue a company for failing to honor a deletion request. Check your state's law or consult a lawyer who handles privacy cases. Many will take a case on contingency if the violation is clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for information to actually disappear?

Data brokers usually remove your listing from their public website within two to eight weeks of your request. Google Search removal takes days to weeks. However, the information may reappear in the broker's database within months because they re-collect it from public sources. Complete disappearance from the internet is not realistic — some information will always exist somewhere.

Do I have to pay to remove my information?

No. Data brokers are required to offer free removal. If a site charges you to remove your information, it is either a scam or a premium service (like paying to remove yourself faster). Stick with the free removal process, which just takes longer.

Can I remove information that someone else posted about me?

Not directly. You can ask the person who posted it to delete it, or you can report it to the platform if it violates their policies (harassment, impersonation, non-consensual intimate images). You can also ask Google to remove it from search results. But you cannot force a website to delete content unless you own it or it is illegal.

Will removing my information from data brokers affect my credit score?

No. Data brokers and credit reporting agencies are different. Removing yourself from Spokeo or BeenVerified does not touch your credit report. If you want to check or dispute your credit report, that is a separate process through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.

What if I want to remove information but keep my social media accounts?

You can remove your information from data brokers without touching your social media. However, if your social media profile is public, data brokers may re-collect your information from it. Consider making your profile private, limiting what information is visible, or using a nickname instead of your real name on social platforms.