You can remove some of your information, but not all of it, and the process depends on where it is
The internet does not have a single delete button. Your information lives in different places — data broker sites, search engines, social media, public records databases, old websites you forgot about — and each one requires a different removal method. Some sites will remove your information within days if you ask. Others will not remove it at all, or will only remove it if you pay. A few pieces of information, like court records and property deeds, are legally required to stay public and cannot be removed.
The realistic goal is not to erase yourself from the internet entirely, but to remove your information from the places where it is most easily found and most likely to be misused. This guide covers the main categories where your personal information appears and the actual steps to request removal from each one.
Key Takeaways
- Data broker sites and people-search websites will remove your information for free if you submit a removal request, though the process takes two to four weeks per site.
- Search engines like Google can remove certain types of information — such as your home address or phone number — through their removal request form, but cannot remove information from the original website.
- Social media platforms have privacy settings that control who sees your information, but deleting your account does not when ready remove old posts from search results or archived versions of the internet.
- Public records like court documents, property deeds, and marriage licenses cannot be removed because they are legally required to be public, but you can request they be sealed in some cases.
- Websites you no longer control — old blogs, outdated business listings, abandoned accounts — require contacting the site owner or the hosting company to request deletion.
Removing yourself from data broker and people-search websites
Data brokers and people-search sites are the easiest places to get your information removed because they exist only to collect and sell data, and they are required by law to honor removal requests. Sites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, Intelius, and MyLife all have removal pages. The process is the same for each: you find their removal form, enter your name and sometimes your phone number or email, and they send you a confirmation link. Click the link, and your information is flagged for deletion.
The removal takes two to four weeks. During that time, your information may still appear in search results because search engines cache old versions of pages. Once the data broker removes it from their site, you can request Google remove the cached version separately (see the search engine section below).
The catch is that there are dozens of these sites, and new ones appear regularly. You do not have to remove yourself from all of them — focus on the ones that rank highest in a Google search for your name. Search for your own name in quotes (like "John Smith") and note which people-search sites appear in the first few results. Those are the ones most likely to be found by someone looking for you.
Removing your information from Google Search and other search engines
Google does not host your information; it only links to it. Removing something from Google Search does not delete it from the original website. However, Google will remove certain sensitive information — your home address, phone number, email address, or bank account details — if you request it through their removal form, even if that information still appears on the original website.
Go to Google's removal request page (google.com/webmasters/tools/removals) and sign in with your Google account. Select "Temporarily hide" and enter the specific URL where your information appears. Describe what information you want removed and why — for example, "My home address appears on this old real estate listing." Google reviews the request within a few days and usually grants it if the information is sensitive personal data. The removal lasts six months; after that, the information may reappear in search results unless you request removal again.
For other search engines like Bing, use their webmaster removal tool (bing.com/webmasters/tools). The process is similar. Note that removing something from search results does not remove it from the original website — it only stops search engines from linking to it.
Deleting or restricting your social media accounts
Social media platforms store your information on their servers, and deleting your account does not when ready erase everything you posted. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn all allow you to read your data, deactivate your account, or permanently delete it. Deactivation is temporary — you can reactivate within a certain window. Permanent deletion takes 30 to 90 days and removes your profile, posts, photos, and messages from the platform's active servers.
However, deletion does not remove old posts from Google Search or from archived versions of the internet. The Internet Archive (archive.org) maintains snapshots of old websites and social media profiles. You can request that the Archive remove snapshots of your profile by filling out their removal form, though this does not remove snapshots that were taken before you made the request.
Before deleting, read your data. Most platforms have a "read Your Information" or "Data read" option in settings. This gives you a copy of everything you posted, which you may want to keep. After deletion, you can still be tagged in other people's posts and photos, which you cannot control unless you ask those people to untag you or remove the posts.
Dealing with old websites, abandoned accounts, and outdated listings
If your information appears on a website you no longer own or control — an old business website, a forgotten blog, a profile on a site you no longer use — you have two options: contact the website owner directly, or contact the hosting company.
Start by finding out who owns the site. Use WHOIS lookup (whois.com or whois.net) to find the domain owner's contact information. Email them and ask them to remove your information or delete the page. Many site owners will do this without argument, especially if the site is old and no longer maintained.
If the owner does not respond or you cannot find them, contact the hosting company. The site's hosting provider is listed in the WHOIS record under "Hosting Provider" or "Name Server." Email their abuse department and explain that your personal information appears on a site you no longer control and request they remove it or take down the page. Hosting companies are often more responsive than individual site owners because they want to avoid liability.
For old business listings on Google My Business, Yelp, or Yellow Pages, sign in to your account on that platform and delete or claim the listing. If you cannot access the account, contact the platform's support team and explain that the listing is outdated or belongs to a business you no longer operate.
Understanding what cannot be removed
Public records — court documents, property deeds, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, criminal records, and bankruptcy filings — are legally required to be public and cannot be removed from government databases. These records appear on sites like Zillow (property records), county court websites, and state records databases.
You cannot delete these records, but you may be able to request they be sealed. Sealing means the record still exists but is not publicly searchable. The process and may be able to access vary by state and record type. For example, some states allow you to seal certain criminal records after a waiting period, or seal juvenile records automatically. Contact the court or agency that issued the record to ask about sealing options.
Some private sites republish public records — for example, Spokeo and BeenVerified pull property information from county records. Removing your information from the data broker does not remove it from the original government database, but it does remove it from the most commonly searched people-search sites.
Protecting yourself going forward
Removing your information from the internet is not a one-time task. New data brokers appear, old sites get archived, and information gets republished. The best long-term approach is to limit what you put online in the first place.
Use privacy settings on social media to limit who can see your posts and profile. Avoid posting your phone number, address, or full birth date publicly. When you sign up for websites, use a separate email address for each site if possible, so your information is not linked across multiple platforms. Be cautious about what you share in online forums, comment sections, and public directories.
Consider using a virtual phone number or P.O. box instead of your real phone number or home address when you sign up for services. This limits how much of your real contact information is collected and stored by companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove my information from data broker sites?
Most data brokers process removal requests within two to four weeks. Some are faster — Spokeo and BeenVerified often remove information within a few days. After the data broker removes your information, it may still appear in Google Search results for another week or two because Google caches old versions of pages. You can request Google remove the cached version separately.
Can I remove my information from Google completely?
No. Google Search is a search engine, not a storage site. It links to information that lives on other websites. You can ask Google to remove sensitive information like your address or phone number from search results, but you cannot remove information unless you also remove it from the original website. If you want something completely gone, you must contact the website owner and ask them to delete it.
What if a website refuses to remove my information?
If the website owner ignores your request, contact their hosting company's abuse department. Explain that your personal information appears on the site and you have requested removal. Hosting companies can force site owners to comply or take down the site. If the site is a data broker, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov), which enforces data broker removal laws.
Will deleting my social media account remove all my posts from the internet?
Deleting your account removes your profile and posts from the social media platform itself, but not from Google Search or archived versions of the internet. Old posts may still appear in search results for weeks or months. The Internet Archive (archive.org) maintains snapshots of old websites and profiles; you can request they remove snapshots of your profile, but this only affects future snapshots, not ones already taken.
Can I remove public records like court documents or property deeds?
No. Public records are legally required to be public and cannot be deleted. However, you may be able to request they be sealed, which means they still exist but are not publicly searchable. Sealing options vary by state and record type. Contact the court or government agency that issued the record to ask whether sealing is possible in your situation.