This Tool Deletes Your Info From Data Broker Sites (If You Live in One State)

"California isn't the only state to enact stronger consumer privacy laws in recent years, but its Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) is the first of its kind. The tool is live now, though brokers won't begin processing submissions until August. Here's what to do now if you live in California-and some options for removing your information from data brokers if you don't."

"To get started with DROP, you'll need to confirm that you are, in fact, a California resident by verifying personal information via California Identity Gateway or signing in with Login.gov credentials. To be eligible, you must either live in California or be domiciled in the state even if you live elsewhere temporarily. (This is based on the location of your primary residence, where you are registered to vote, and which state issued your driver's license.)"

"You will then be able to create and submit a deletion request. You'll need to provide some personal data, which will be used to match your request with records held by data brokers. Data types include names, date of birth, zip codes, email addresses, phone numbers, Mobile Advertising IDs (MAIDs), and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). You can enter multiples of everything except your date of birth and update your request at a later time-if you get a new car or change your email, for example."

Data brokers collect extensive personal and online-activity information and sell it for marketing. California residents gained greater control over personal data under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018 and now have a centralized Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) to request removal from hundreds of state-registered brokers. DROP is live, but brokers will not begin processing submissions until August. Enrollment requires residency verification via California Identity Gateway or Login.gov, and eligibility includes living or being domiciled in California. Users must submit personal identifiers—names, date of birth, zip codes, emails, phone numbers, MAIDs, VINs—and can update requests later, with some fields allowing multiple entries.

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