How to Remove Your Info From People-Search Sites (Free Opt-Outs, Google Tools and State Laws)

To remove yourself from people-search sites, find each listing, use the site’s own opt-out page (usually linked in the footer as “Do Not Sell,” “Opt Out” or “Privacy”), and confirm by email. Then use Google’s free Results about you tool to request that search results showing your phone number, email or home address are removed from Google Search. If you live in California, the state’s free DROP platform can send one deletion request to all registered data brokers.

It’s a chore rather than a one-time fix: listings can reappear as data brokers refresh their records, so plan to check again every few months.

What people-search sites are

People-search sites are a type of data broker. They gather public records (property, court and voter files where available), marketing lists and other sources into profiles that can include your address history, phone numbers, age, relatives and email addresses. Many sites share the same underlying data, so one profile may appear on dozens of sites.

Removing these listings reduces exposure to spam calls, scams, stalking and identity theft, though it can’t erase the original public records.

Step 1: Find where you’re listed

1. Search your full name plus your city and state on Google.
2. Repeat with any former cities, maiden or married names, and your phone number.
3. Write down each people-search site that shows a profile, with the profile’s URL.

Use a simple spreadsheet or note with the site name, profile URL, date you requested removal and status. You’ll want it when you recheck.

Step 2: Use each site’s opt-out form

The exact steps vary, but most opt-out flows look like this:

1. Scroll to the bottom of the site and find the Opt Out, Remove My Info or Do Not Sell My Personal Information link.
2. Search for your listing on the opt-out page and select the matching profile (or paste its URL).
3. Enter an email address to receive the confirmation link. Consider a separate email address used only for opt-outs.
4. Click the link in the confirmation email.
5. Some sites ask for a phone call verification or extra details. Give only what’s needed to identify the listing.

Removal can take anywhere from a day to several weeks. Common sites such as Whitepages, Spokeo and similar services each have their own forms; some also own sister sites that need separate requests.

Be cautious: never send a copy of your driver’s license or Social Security number to a people-search site. A legitimate opt-out shouldn’t require your SSN. If a site demands payment to remove a listing, look for a free opt-out link or your state’s privacy rights instead.

Step 3: Ask Google to hide results with your contact info

Opting out removes the listing from the site itself. Google’s Results about you tool handles the other half: asking Google to stop showing search results that contain your personal contact details.

1. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture and choose Results about you, or open the tool from Google’s help page while signed in.
2. Tap Get started and add the contact info you want monitored: name, phone numbers, home address and email addresses.
3. Google scans results (this can take a few hours) and lists matches for review.
4. Select a result and choose to request removal. You can track each request’s status in the tool.
5. Turn on notifications so Google alerts you when new results with your info appear.

In 2026 Google also expanded the tool so you can ask it to remove results showing government ID numbers, such as a driver’s license, passport or Social Security number. Google reviews each request against its policies and doesn’t remove everything; for example, it generally won’t remove contact info from government, educational or news sites. Details are on Google’s Find and remove personal info help page.

Removing a result from Google doesn’t delete the page. That’s why you do both steps.

Step 4: Use your state’s privacy rights

Several US states give residents legal rights over data brokers:

• California: the Delete Act created DROP (Delete Request and Opt-out Platform), run by the California Privacy Protection Agency. Since January 2026 residents can submit one request that reaches every registered data broker, and since August 2026 brokers have been required to check it regularly and process requests. See the CPPA’s data broker page.
• Other states: a growing number of states, including several with comprehensive privacy laws, give you the right to request deletion or opt out of the sale of your data. A few, such as Vermont, Texas and Oregon, also run data broker registries that list who operates in the state.

If your state has a privacy law, many sites offer a state-specific request form. Search the site’s privacy policy for your state’s name.

Paid removal services: pros and cons

Several companies charge a yearly fee to send opt-out requests on your behalf and recheck sites regularly. They can save a lot of time, but they’re not magic.

If you choose a service, check which sites it covers, whether it shows proof of each removal, and its own privacy policy. No service can remove public records at the source, and listings may return after you stop paying.

Other steps that reduce your exposure

• Freeze your credit with all three bureaus so a stolen identity can’t easily be used for new accounts. Our guide on how to freeze your credit walks through it.
• Cut down robocalls that often follow from listed numbers; see how to block spam calls.
• Check for breaches of your email address and change reused passwords. Here’s what to do if your email was in a data breach.
• Use a P.O. box or a second phone number for online forms where you can.

Bottom line

Opt out site by site using each broker’s free form, ask Google to hide results with your contact details through Results about you, and use state tools like California’s DROP if you’re eligible. Keep a log and recheck every few months. Paid services can save time but don’t replace understanding what’s out there.

FAQ

Is it free to remove my info from people-search sites?

Yes, most sites offer a free opt-out. You can pay a removal service to do it for you, but it isn’t required.

Why did my listing come back?

Data brokers regularly refresh records from their sources, which can recreate a profile. Rechecking every few months catches these.

Does Results about you delete the website?

No. It only asks Google to stop showing the result in Google Search. The page stays online unless the site removes it.

Can I remove court or property records?

Usually not. Public records stay with the government agency that keeps them, though people-search sites can still be asked to remove their copies.