Free CA Residents 500+ data broker deletion

From California State Government

DROP (Delete Request and Opt-out Platform) is a free, online tool from CalPrivacy that is launching on January 1, 2026. DROP will help you control what personal information data brokers have about you. DROP lets you send a single request to 500+ registered data brokersopens in a new window to require them to delete your personal information.

https://privacy.ca.gov/drop/

https://privacy.ca.gov/ [ca.gov]

Data brokers are companies that collect and sell your personal information without directly interacting with you. They may obtain details such as your email, phone number, browsing history, or location data. They may also collect and sell inferences about your interests, health, shopping habits, and more. DROP gives you a way to require these companies to delete your personal information in a secure and efficient manner.

DROP gives you more control over your personal information. It also helps protect your privacy. When your information is held by data brokers, it can be sold to others. This information can be used to influence you — to buy certain products, to feel certain emotions, or even take certain actions. It can put you at greater risk of identity theft, fraud, or AI impersonations. It can also increase the chances your data is leaked or hacked. Using DROP helps make you and your personal data more secure.

Beyond basic identifiers like your name, phone number, or email, data brokers collect vast amounts of information about you:
Behavioral data — Your social media or browsing history, your likes and dislikes;
Financial-related data — Your payment history or spending habits;
Health-related data — Your usage of health-related apps, wearables, trackers, or websites;
Location data — Where you go and how often you visit certain places;
Relationships — Your family and friends and how often you interact with them;
Inferences — Data brokers draw conclusions about your lifestyle, hobbies, income, or even your religious or political beliefs from your data. This can include the history of the videos you watch, articles you read, or the topics you search for.
There's some information that data brokers aren't required to delete under the law. This includes information the government makes open to the public (for example, property records or court filings). They also won't delete information controlled by other federal and state laws, such as certain financial or health information. This means that some data brokers will still have pieces of your information after you use DROP.