New tool allows Californians to request data brokers delete personal details

"The Drop tool sends a mass deletion request to 500 data brokers, the term for companies which collect and sell personal information gleaned from public records, phone data, online web browsing and a host of other activities. The information, which can be highly detailed and can be taken without user consent, is widely available for purchase on data brokers' sites. California's Drop program aims to reduce the typically time-consuming and expensive process of individually identifying and contacting data brokers to seek out deletion."

"Although some private companies offer services to mass delete personal data, California's government claims that the platform is the first of its kind in the world. While Drop is now open to all 40 million residents of California, data brokers do not have to start processing the requests until 1 August. The state touts that the eventual result will be that Californians have greater control over their personal data."

"Drop emerged from a 2023 privacy law called the Delete Act which called for creating a single mechanism for residents to seek removal of their data. Californians must verify they live in the state to use the tool, then create a profile and submit a request to the 500 data brokers that are registered in the state. Data broker firms are part of an opaque, multibillion-dollar industry that hoovers up immense amounts of personal data for sale to businesses, government agencies and sometimes scammers."

Californians can use a government website called Drop to request that companies stop selling their personal information online. Drop sends a mass deletion request to 500 data brokers that collect and sell data from public records, phone records, web browsing and other activity. The information can be highly detailed, taken without consent, and widely available for purchase. The platform aims to simplify removal by avoiding individually identifying and contacting brokers. Drop is open to all 40 million California residents, but data brokers need not begin processing requests until August 1. Residents must verify residency, create a profile, and submit requests to registered brokers.

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