Removing personal data from broker sites¶

Data brokers collect and sell personal details, home address, income, online activity, without consent. Getting off their lists is possible, though it takes repetition.

Find where the data is listed¶

Start by checking where the information already appears. Have I Been Pwned shows whether an email turned up in a known breach, while people-search sites such as Spokeo in the US list home addresses, phone numbers and more. Searching a name, email and phone number shows what is exposed.

EU law prohibits Spokeo-style scraping of addresses and social media, so the European picture is different. Tools based in the EU, and services like BlockSurvey or ProtonMail in Switzerland, tend to emphasise consent-based access and user control rather than open resale.

Opt out of each broker¶

For each broker holding the data, find its opt-out or privacy page, usually linked in the footer. The process usually requires:

• Proof of identity, such as a photo ID with sensitive fields (an ID number) blacked out

• A form or an email requesting removal

Many brokers re-add the data after a few months, so the opt-out needs repeating every three to six months to stay effective.

In Europe and the UK, the GDPR gives a right to demand deletion. A formal request can take this form:

Subject: Data Erasure Request Under Article 17 GDPR
Dear [Company Name],
I request immediate deletion of all my personal data under Article 17 of the GDPR. This includes any profiles, records, or associated information held by your organisation.
Please confirm once this action is completed.
Sincerely,
[Name]

Companies have 30 days to comply, or face penalties.

Automated removal services¶

Where manual opt-out feels overwhelming, paid services such as DeleteMe (around £100 a year) scan and remove data on a schedule. For a free alternative, SimpleOptOut gives step-by-step guides for opting out of more than a hundred brokers.

Staying private over time¶

Because brokers constantly refresh their databases, a yearly reminder to recheck and resubmit opt-outs keeps the effort from lapsing. Using a separate email alias for online accounts also limits how much any one broker can link together.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-08.