How to Remove Yourself From People-Search Sites (2026)
Immediate steps
- Search your name to find which people-search sites list you and copy each profile URL.
- Start with the highest-traffic brokers: Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, MyLife, Radaris, ThatsThem, PeopleFinders.
- Complete each site's opt-out (often requires copying your listing URL and confirming via email; some require phone verification).
Where to report
| Entity | Contact | What to report |
|---|---|---|
| Spokeo | https://www.spokeo.com/optout | Submit your listing URL + email to opt out |
| Whitepages | https://www.whitepages.com/suppression_requests | Paste your listing URL; phone verification required |
| BeenVerified | https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout/search | Find your record and confirm via email |
Removal actions
- Submit opt-out requests to each site that lists you.
- Re-check every few months — listings frequently reappear, and new brokers emerge.
- Consider an automated, monitored removal service to cover the long tail of brokers and resubmit when data returns.
Prevention and follow-up
- Set up Google 'Results about you' monitoring.
- Limit the personal data you share with new sign-ups and loyalty programs.
- Pair removal with a credit freeze for layered protection.
Legal context
Most people-search data comes from public records and commercial sources; many states grant opt-out/deletion rights, and California's data-broker registration and deletion mechanisms strengthen consumer rights. There is no single federal law forcing all brokers to delete data for the general public. This is general information, not legal advice.
Key mistakes to avoid
- Opting out of one or two sites and stopping.
- Providing extra personal data to a broker during opt-out.
- Not re-checking — data reappears.
- Assuming an opt-out at one broker covers its sister sites (it usually doesn't, though some are linked).
How Delist helps
This guide is delist.ai's core competency: people-search removal is exactly what delist.ai automates — finding your listings across hundreds of brokers, submitting opt-outs, and re-removing your data when it reappears. Per Consumer Reports' study (researcher Yael Grauer) of 32 volunteers, manual opt-out 'requires a significant investment of time and energy—anywhere from several hours to several days,' and only 117 of 332 data instances (35%) were removed within four months — illustrating why automated, monitored removal matters.
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Sources
- Consumer Reports broker list, opt-out guidance, reappearance warning, and 35% / 117-of-332 removal-rate study
- Spokeo official opt-out page
- Whitepages official suppression/opt-out page
This guide provides general information for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, medical, or safety advice. If you are in danger, contact emergency services immediately.