You cannot remove yourself completely, but you can remove most public records
Complete removal from the internet is not possible — government records, court documents, and news archives exist independently of what you control. What you can do is remove your personal information from data broker sites, delete your own accounts and posts, request removal from search engines, and opt out of people-search websites. The process takes weeks or months and requires working through multiple sites, but it significantly reduces what strangers can find about you.
Start with data brokers because they are the largest source of compiled personal information online. After that, move to your own accounts, then search engines, then the smaller people-search sites. Each step removes a different category of information from different places.
Key Takeaways
- Data brokers like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages hold the most searchable personal information and should be your first target.
- Deleting your own social media, email, and other accounts removes information you posted yourself, which is separate from what data brokers collected.
- Google and Bing allow you to request removal of specific pages from their search results, but the pages themselves remain on the original websites.
- Opting out of individual people-search sites takes time because there is no single form — each site has its own removal process.
- Government records, court documents, and news articles cannot be removed by you, but they rank lower in search results once you remove data broker listings.
Remove yourself from the major data brokers first
Data brokers compile information from public records, purchase history, and other sources, then sell access to that data. The largest ones are Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, PeopleFinder, and Intelius. Each has its own removal process, and most require you to visit their site directly and submit a removal request.
Visit each broker's website and look for a link labeled "Remove my information," "Privacy," or "Opt out." Some sites make this straightforward — Spokeo has a dedicated removal page. Others bury it in their terms of service. You will need to provide your name and sometimes an email address or phone number to confirm you are the person requesting removal. Most brokers remove your information within one to two weeks, though some take longer.
Keep a list of which sites you have submitted removal requests to, because you may need to resubmit if your information reappears. Data brokers sometimes re-add information from updated public records, so checking back every few months is worth doing if you want to stay off their sites long-term.
Delete or deactivate your own social media and email accounts
Information you posted yourself — photos, bios, posts, comments — lives on the platforms where you posted it and in search engine caches. Deleting these accounts removes the source, though cached versions may remain searchable for a while longer.
For each account you want gone, look for a "Delete Account" or "Deactivate Account" option in settings. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube all have account deletion options, though they often hide them several clicks deep in privacy settings. Most platforms give you a grace period (usually 30 days) before permanent deletion, during which you can cancel if you change your mind. After that period, your account and its content are removed from their servers.
Email accounts are harder to fully remove because they are tied to other services. If you have a Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo account you no longer use, you can delete it through your account settings, but consider whether you still need it for password recovery on other sites first. Deleting an email account does not remove emails that other people sent you or forwarded — those remain in their inboxes and in email archives.
Request removal from Google and Bing search results
Search engines index pages across the internet. Removing a page from Google's search results does not delete the page itself — it just stops Google from showing it when someone searches. You can request removal through Google Search Console (for Google) or Bing Webmaster Tools (for Bing).
To use Google Search Console, sign in with a Google account, add your website or claim ownership of pages you want removed, then use the "Removals" tool to request that specific URLs be delisted. Google usually processes these requests within a few days. The page stays on the original website, but it will not appear in Google search results for several months. After that time, Google may re-index it if the page is still live.
For pages you do not own — like old social media profiles, news articles about you, or data broker listings — you can use Google's removal request form to ask for removal of sensitive information like your phone number or address. Google reviews these requests but does not always grant them. If the page contains information you consider harmful, you can also contact the website owner directly and ask them to remove or edit the content.
Opt out of people-search websites one at a time
Beyond the major data brokers, dozens of smaller people-search sites collect and display personal information. There is no single opt-out form for all of them, so you will need to visit each site individually. Common ones include TruthFinder, PeopleSmart, MyLife, when ready Checkmate, and Pipl.
Each site has a different removal process. Some have an "Opt Out" link on their homepage. Others require you to find your listing, click on it, and look for a removal option. A few require you to email their support team with proof of identity. This process is tedious because it requires repeating similar steps across many sites, but it removes your information from the places where people most commonly search for others.
After you have submitted removal requests, check back in a few months. Some sites re-add information periodically, so you may need to submit removal requests again. Keeping a spreadsheet of which sites you have contacted and when makes this easier to track.
Handle government records and news articles separately
Court records, property records, marriage licenses, and news articles are published by government agencies and news organizations, not data brokers. You cannot remove these yourself, but you can reduce their visibility by removing the data broker listings that compile and republish them.
If a news article about you appears in search results, you can contact the news organization and ask them to remove or edit it, but they are not required to do so. If the article contains factually incorrect information, you can request a correction. If it contains sensitive information like your address or phone number, you can ask them to redact it.
For government records, removal is usually not an option. Court documents, property records, and vital records are public by law. However, some states allow you to request that certain records be sealed or redacted under specific circumstances — for example, if you were a minor when the record was created, or if the record relates to a dismissed case. Contact your state's court system or records office to learn what options exist in your state.
Monitor your online presence going forward
After you have removed your information from the major sources, periodically search for your name in Google to see what still appears. Set a reminder to check every three to six months, because new information gets added to the internet constantly.
When you create new accounts, use privacy settings to limit who can see your information. On social media, set your profile to private so only people you approve can see your posts. On shopping sites, uncheck boxes that allow your information to be shared with third parties. When signing up for services, look for opt-out options for marketing and data sharing.
Be cautious about what information you provide online. The less you post publicly, the less there is for data brokers to collect and republish. Phone numbers and addresses are particularly valuable to data brokers, so avoid posting these publicly whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove myself from the internet?
Removing information from data brokers typically takes one to two weeks per site. Deleting social media accounts takes 30 days. Search engine removal can take a few days to several months. If you are removing yourself from 20 or more sites, the entire process can take two to three months from start to finish.
Will my information stay removed, or will it come back?
Data brokers sometimes re-add your information when they receive updated public records. You may need to submit removal requests again every six to twelve months. Government records and news articles will remain online indefinitely unless the organization that published them chooses to remove or edit them.
Do I need to pay for removal services?
No. All data brokers are required by law to allow you to remove your information for free. Services that charge you to remove your information are unnecessary — you can do it yourself by visiting each site directly. Some removal services automate the process across multiple sites, but they charge a monthly fee for something you can do yourself with time and patience.
What if a data broker will not remove my information?
If a data broker refuses to remove your information after you have submitted a removal request, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC enforces data broker removal requirements. You can also contact your state's attorney general's office, which may have additional enforcement authority.
Can I remove myself from Google completely?
You can request removal of specific pages from Google search results, but you cannot remove yourself from Google entirely. If you own a website or social media account, you can delete it, which removes the source. But if other people have posted about you or linked to you, those pages will remain searchable unless you contact the original website owner and ask them to remove the content.