Guide: How to Opt Out of Major People-Search and Data Broker Sites

Removing your personal information from people-search and data broker websites can help protect your privacy. Below, we cover the opt-out process for several major sites (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Intelius, MyLife, PeopleFinders, TruthFinder, etc.). For each site, you’ll find a brief description, the direct opt-out link, step-by-step removal instructions, whether any ID verification is needed, and notes on the difficulty/success of the opt-out. Finally, we include general tips on safeguarding your personal data online.

Spokeo

Description: Spokeo is a people-search site that aggregates personal data (names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, family, court records, property records, etc.) into detailed profiles . It advertises itself as a tool to reconnect with people, but these profiles expose sensitive information to anyone who searches .

Opt-Out Page: Spokeo’s Opt-Out Page – This is where you submit a removal request .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Find Your Profile: Go to Spokeo and search for your name/location. Click your profile result and copy its URL from the address bar .
2. Submit Removal Request: Visit the Spokeo opt-out page and paste the copied profile URL. Provide your email address, complete the CAPTCHA, and click “Opt Out” . You should see a message prompting you to check your email for confirmation .
3. Confirm via Email: Check your inbox for a Spokeo email titled “Spokeo Directory Removal Confirmation.” Click the verification link in that email to finalize the opt-out . A confirmation notice should appear on the opt-out page once completed.

Verification Required: Yes – Spokeo requires email verification (you must click the link sent to your email) but no photo ID or phone call is needed .

Difficulty & Success Rate: The process is moderately easy but can be a bit time-consuming. Spokeo reports that removals may take 2–3 days, though in practice listings are often gone within an hour of email confirmation . Keep in mind that Spokeo continuously updates its database, so your information could reappear later. It’s recommended to periodically search Spokeo again and re-opt-out if needed .

Whitepages

Description: Whitepages is a long-standing data broker that publishes personal details pulled from public records and other sources . Free Whitepages listings often include names, addresses, phone numbers, age, relatives, etc., while more data (like background checks) is sold through Whitepages Premium .

Opt-Out Page: Whitepages Suppression Request – The official page to request removal of your Whitepages listing .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Locate Your Listing: On Whitepages.com, search for your name (you can include city/state to narrow it down). Find your profile in the results and click it to open the listing. Copy the URL of your listing page (it should contain your name and a unique ID in the URL) .
2. Submit Suppression Request: Go to the Whitepages suppression page. Paste your listing URL into the form and click “Next” . The site will display the info from that listing.
3. Confirm and Remove: Click the “Remove Me” button to confirm you want the listing removed, and select a reason for removal from the dropdown menu, then click “Next” .
4. Verify via Phone: Enter a phone number that Whitepages can call for verification, check the consent box, and click “Call now to verify” . You will receive an automated call immediately – when prompted, enter the 4-digit verification code that is shown on the Whitepages opt-out screen . After entering the code, the screen will update to confirm your opt-out request was successful .

Verification Required: Yes – Whitepages requires a phone verification call. You must provide a phone number and input the code from the automated call to complete removal . No email or ID upload is needed, but the phone call step makes this opt-out a bit more involved.

Difficulty & Success Rate: The Whitepages removal process is straightforward but rated medium to high difficulty mainly due to the phone verification step . Opt-out requests are typically processed very quickly (often within an hour of verification) , and you should see your listing disappear soon after . However, Whitepages regularly updates its data, meaning your information might resurface in the future from new public records . It’s wise to re-check Whitepages periodically and submit a new suppression request if you appear again .

BeenVerified

Description: BeenVerified is a popular people search and background check service. It aggregates contact information, education and work history, relatives, public records (court, criminal, property, vehicle records), and more into reports . Users can search by name, phone, email, etc., to find personal details.

Opt-Out Page: BeenVerified Opt-Out – The page to search for your record and submit a removal request .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Search for Your Listing: Visit the BeenVerified opt-out page and enter your first name, last name, and state to search for your profile . Locate your correct listing in the results.
2. Initiate Opt-Out: Click “Proceed to Opt Out” next to your listing . This will prompt you to enter an email for verification.
3. Provide Email & Submit: Enter your email address (use a valid email you can access) and submit the opt-out request. Complete any CAPTCHA if prompted, then click the button to “Send Verification Email” .
4. Confirm via Email: Check your email inbox for a message from BeenVerified. Click the verification link in that email to confirm your removal request . After clicking, you should see a confirmation that your opt-out was successful.

Verification Required: Yes – email confirmation is required. BeenVerified will send a verification link to the email you provide, which you must click to finalize the removal. No other ID verification is needed.

Difficulty & Success Rate: Opting out of BeenVerified is relatively easy and quick. The whole process typically takes only a few minutes, and BeenVerified usually deletes your data within about 24 hours after you submit the request . In some cases it might take up to a day or two for the information to disappear from the site. After verifying, it’s a good idea to check back a day or two later to ensure your profile is gone. BeenVerified should not republish the exact same record once you’ve opted out, but new records (for example, if your details change or they acquire new public data) could appear in the future. If you ever find a new BeenVerified listing for yourself, simply repeat the opt-out process.

Intelius

Description: Intelius is a people-search and background check site that’s part of the PeopleConnect family of data brokers . Intelius offers services like people lookup, reverse phone and address lookup, background checks, and access to public records . Being under PeopleConnect means Intelius shares an opt-out mechanism with sister sites like TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, and US Search .

Opt-Out Page: Intelius doesn’t have a one-click opt-out URL; instead, you use the PeopleConnect Privacy Center/Suppression Tool (which covers Intelius and related sites). You can access it via Intelius’s Privacy page or directly at PeopleConnect’s Suppression Portal .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Access Suppression Tool: Go to the PeopleConnect suppression portal (this handles Intelius opt-outs) . Enter your email address in the form provided. Agree to the terms/consent checkbox, then click “Continue.”
2. Verify Email: Check your email for a verification message from PeopleConnect (it will be titled something like “Confirm your email address”). Click the verification link or button in that email . This will bring you back to the suppression tool to continue the process.
3. Enter Personal Info: You’ll be asked to enter personal details to locate your records. Provide your birth date and full name (and any other requested identifiers) and proceed .
4. Select Your Record: The tool will show one or more matching records. Select the record that corresponds to you and click “Continue.”
5. Complete Verification: To prove identity, choose one of the contact options listed for that record (either an email address or phone number that was in the Intelius listing) and have PeopleConnect send a verification code. Enter the code you receive via that email or text/phone, then continue .
6. Suppress the Listing: Finally, you will see an option to set your profile’s visibility. Toggle the status from “Displayed” to “Suppressed” (hidden) and save/confirm . Suppressing the record removes it from public search results on Intelius (and other PeopleConnect sites).

Verification Required: Yes – Intelius (via PeopleConnect) requires you to verify via a code sent to an email or phone number associated with the record . This ensures that you are the person the record belongs to. No upload of a photo ID is needed, but you must have access to one of the emails or phone numbers that were listed for you. (If none of those contact options are accessible, PeopleConnect’s instructions say you can email their support for assistance in opting out.)

Difficulty & Success Rate: The Intelius opt-out is more involved than some others – difficulty is fairly high due to the multi-step verification process . The good news is that when you complete a suppression through PeopleConnect, it removes your data not just from Intelius but from all PeopleConnect-owned people-search sites (including TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, US Search, etc.) . In terms of success, once you’ve suppressed your record, it should disappear from public view on Intelius within minutes to a few hours. PeopleConnect claims suppression keeps the data off their sites going forward. Nonetheless, because they continually ingest new public records, your info could reappear if new data ties to you . It’s advisable to log back in occasionally (or use TruthFinder’s opt-out flow) to ensure your profile remains suppressed over time. Overall, if you follow all steps, the success rate is high – just be prepared for the extra verification steps.

MyLife

Description: MyLife.com is a large data broker that markets itself as a “reputation” platform . It creates personal profiles using public sources, listing details such as your birth date, current and past addresses, phone numbers, political and religious affiliations, income and assets, lawsuits, liens, and more . Uniquely, MyLife also assigns a “Reputation Score” and allows users to post anonymous reviews of people, which can make your profile more sensitive .

Opt-Out Page: MyLife’s opt-out form is linked as “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” in the footer of their site. You can go directly via MyLife Opt-Out Form (the page for CCPA “Do Not Sell” requests, which doubles as their opt-out form) .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Find Your Profile: Go to MyLife.com and search for yourself by name (and location, if needed) . In the search results, identify your listing but do not click to open it (opening it might prompt a login/paywall) – instead, right-click your name and copy the link address/URL of your profile .
2. Go to Opt-Out Form: Navigate to MyLife’s “Do Not Sell My Personal Info” opt-out page. (You can scroll to the website footer and click that link, or use the direct URL above.) The form will ask for your name, age, etc. .
3. Submit Removal Request: Fill out the opt-out form with the required details. Paste the URL of your MyLife profile where indicated, and provide your first name, last name, and a valid email address. Select your state from the drop-down menu. Solve the CAPTCHA and hit “Continue” to submit .
4. Verify and Complete: Depending on your state and MyLife’s process, you may either be prompted for additional details immediately or receive a verification code via email before proceeding . If an email verification code is sent, enter that code to continue. Then fill out any remaining required fields (only the asterisked fields are mandatory) and complete a final CAPTCHA. Click the “Opt Out” button to finalize the request . After submission, you should see a confirmation message on the page and will later receive a confirmation email from MyLife .

Verification Required: Yes – email verification may be required as part of the form process. MyLife might send a code to the email you provided, which you must input to proceed . There is no requirement to upload an ID. (Alternatively, MyLife also allows opt-out by emailing their support or calling their customer service, but the online form is the most straightforward.)

Difficulty & Success Rate: The MyLife opt-out is of medium difficulty. Filling the form is not hard, but MyLife often takes a while to actually remove the listing. They state that it can take several weeks (often around 2–4 weeks) for your profile to be deleted from their site , so don’t expect immediate results. Mark your calendar to check back in about a month – use the profile URL you saved to verify that the page no longer shows your info . The success rate is generally good as long as you complete all steps; just be patient with the timing. Keep in mind, MyLife is known to aggregate data continuously, so monitoring is important. Once removed, it’s wise to search MyLife every so often (e.g. a couple of times a year) to ensure a new listing hasn’t been generated for you. If it has, you’ll need to opt out again.

Note: Removing your MyLife profile does not automatically remove you from other people-search sites. MyLife’s confirmation will only cover their site. You should separately opt out of other brokers as well (MyLife even explicitly recommends opting out of other major sites after theirs) .

PeopleFinders

Description: PeopleFinders is a California-based people search service that has been operating for over 20 years . It provides access to “120 billion public records” (by its own claim) for background checks, reverse lookups, and people searches . A PeopleFinders report can include full name, phone numbers, addresses, family members, criminal records, property records, and more . The site’s broad scope means your personal details could be exposed to its millions of monthly users .

Opt-Out Page: PeopleFinders Opt-Out – This is the page on PeopleFinders’ site where you can submit a request to remove your listing .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Find Your Listing: First, go to PeopleFinders.com and search for your profile. Enter your name (plus city/state) on the search page and locate the result that matches you . Click “View Details” on your listing – it will prompt a report page.
2. Copy Profile URL: When the report page loads (you might see a prompt like “I understand – please build my report”), you do not need to purchase anything. Simply copy the URL from your browser’s address bar – this URL contains the unique ID for your record .
3. Go to Opt-Out Form: In a new tab, open the PeopleFinders opt-out page: peoplefinders.com/opt-out. Scroll down to the removal form. Paste the URL of your profile into the form field and provide your email address . (Use an email you can check; for privacy you might use an alternate or masked email, since they’ll send a confirmation there.)
4. Submit and Verify: Complete the CAPTCHA and click “Send request” to submit the opt-out . Within a few minutes, PeopleFinders will send a verification email. Check your inbox for a message with a subject like “Remove [Your Name] Profile”. Click the removal confirmation link inside that email to verify your request . Finally, you may need to solve one more CAPTCHA and click a final “Send request”/confirm on the site after the email link (as an extra step to ensure you’re human) .

Verification Required: Yes – email verification. You must click the link in the confirmation email PeopleFinders sends to complete the removal . No other identification is required. (There’s also an option to call PeopleFinders support to opt out by phone, but the online method is usually sufficient .)

Difficulty & Success Rate: Opting out of PeopleFinders is fairly straightforward and rated low in difficulty. It typically takes about 10–20 minutes to do the steps, mostly spent finding your listing and waiting for the email . After you confirm, PeopleFinders usually processes the removal within 24–48 hours, though it could take a few days for the record to disappear completely . The success rate is high for removing a specific listing. However, PeopleFinders continuously scrapes public records and can re-add your data as new records become available . This means you might need to repeat the opt-out later on. It’s recommended to check back every few months or so – if you see yourself listed again, submit a new opt-out request. Also remember, removing your info from PeopleFinders does not affect listings on other sites; you’ll need to opt out of each one separately .

TruthFinder

Description: TruthFinder is another popular background check website, which is part of the PeopleConnect network (alongside Intelius) . TruthFinder compiles billions of public records to create detailed profiles. A TruthFinder report might include contact information, social media profiles, employment history, education, criminal and court records, marriage/divorce records, possible photos, and more . Like similar services, it raises privacy concerns by making all this info easily searchable.

Opt-Out Page: TruthFinder’s opt-out is done through the PeopleConnect Suppression Center (same system as Intelius). You can access it via TruthFinder’s website by navigating to their Privacy/Opt-Out section, or directly go to PeopleConnect Suppression Portal which will handle TruthFinder opt-out .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Begin at PeopleConnect Portal: Go to suppression.peopleconnect.us and enter your email address to start the opt-out . Agree to the terms and continue. Then verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox (as in the Intelius process) .
2. Enter Personal Details: After email verification, you’ll be prompted to provide personal info. Enter your date of birth and name when prompted (this is used to find your records) . Continue through these steps, making sure the info is accurate.
3. Select Your Record: The PeopleConnect tool will display one or more records matching your identity. Choose the correct record that corresponds to you and click “Continue” .
4. Verify via Code: Next, choose a verification method. The tool will show partially masked contact info (email addresses or phone numbers) associated with the record you selected. Select one of these that you have access to, and PeopleConnect will send a verification code to that email or phone . Enter the code on the website to confirm you are the person in the record.
5. Suppress Your Profile: Once verified, you’ll be given the option to adjust the status of your TruthFinder profile. Set it to “Suppressed” (hidden) and confirm/save the changes . This will effectively remove your data from public searches on TruthFinder.

(Optional): PeopleConnect also allows you to request full deletion of your data (a “Right to Delete” under privacy laws) via the same process. After suppressing, you might see an option to “delete my user data” by entering your email again . Suppression alone stops the data from showing publicly, while deletion attempts to remove it entirely from their database. PeopleConnect tends to encourage suppression as the way to keep data from reappearing , but you can do both.

Verification Required: Yes – TruthFinder (via PeopleConnect) requires multi-factor verification. You must verify your email address and then verify using either an email or phone number from your own report . Essentially, if your profile showed, say, an old email and a cell number of yours, you can choose one of those for PeopleConnect to send a code. This ensures only the person who controls that contact can suppress the record. No government ID upload is required, but if none of the listed contacts are accessible to you, you may need to reach out to their support for an alternative verification.

Difficulty & Success Rate: TruthFinder’s opt-out process is considered high difficulty compared to others . The steps are a bit particular and can be time-consuming, but they are effective. Once completed, your info will be suppressed on TruthFinder and also automatically on Intelius, Instant Checkmate, USSearch, and any other PeopleConnect-owned people-search sites . This is a big plus – you’re basically opting out of several services in one go. Suppression usually occurs quickly (often within an hour) once you finish the process . Do note that TruthFinder/PeopleConnect frequently refresh their data, so your information could potentially return if new data is gathered . In theory, a suppressed record should stay suppressed, but if you change your name or address, a new listing might get created. Therefore, it’s wise to check back on TruthFinder every so often (e.g., every couple of months). If you find yourself searchable again, repeat the opt-out. Generally, though, a successful PeopleConnect suppression has a high success rate in keeping that particular profile hidden.

FastPeopleSearch

Description: FastPeopleSearch is a free people-search site known for its vast database – it claims to have information on over 800 million individuals, with 16.5 billion public records in total . It lets anyone perform searches by name, phone, or address, and reveals personal details like full name, age, current and past addresses, phone numbers, possible relatives, and more. FastPeopleSearch is heavily used for quick lookups, which makes opting out important if you want to limit your exposure.

Opt-Out Page: FastPeopleSearch Removal Page – The direct form to request your info be removed .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Start Removal Request: Visit the FastPeopleSearch removal page . Enter your email address (they’ll use this to send a confirmation) and check the required verification boxes.
2. Begin Search: Click “Begin the Removal Process.” Then search for your name within the opt-out interface and find your listing in the results .
3. Select Your Record: Click on your name/record. At the top of your profile page, click the “Remove My Record” button .
4. Confirm via Email: FastPeopleSearch will send a confirmation email to the address you provided. Check your inbox and click the confirmation link to complete the opt-out .

Verification Required: Yes – email confirmation is required. You must have access to the email you use in the first step to click the removal confirmation link. No phone or ID needed.

Difficulty & Success Rate: Opting out of FastPeopleSearch is generally easy. The online form is straightforward and the process only takes a few minutes. After confirming, records are often removed quickly (sometimes within 24–48 hours). Many users report successful removals through this method. As with other sites, your data could reappear later since FastPeopleSearch continually pulls from public records. It’s recommended to check the site periodically and repeat the opt-out if needed . Overall, FastPeopleSearch has a high success rate for removals – just stay vigilant about new listings.

TruePeopleSearch

Description: TruePeopleSearch is a free people lookup site that makes a wide array of personal details available with no paywall. A TruePeopleSearch report can include your full name (and aliases), current and past addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, names of relatives and associates, and more . Uniquely, it may also list records like marriages, divorces, bankruptcies, liens, and criminal or court records if available . All this is accessible to anyone without an account, so removing yourself from TruePeopleSearch is vital for privacy.

Opt-Out Page: TruePeopleSearch Removal – The page where you can remove your record (accessible via the site’s footer or directly) .

Opt-Out Steps:

1. Access Removal Page: Go to the TruePeopleSearch removal page . You’ll see a form titled “Remove a Record.”
2. Enter Email and Begin: Provide a valid email address and check the box confirming the information is yours (and that you’re not a bot via CAPTCHA). Click the button to “Begin Removal” .
3. Find Your Record: After initiating, use the search on that page to look up your record (enter your name, city, state). Locate your specific listing and click “Details” to view your profile .
4. Remove the Record: Scroll to the bottom of your profile page and click on “Remove This Record” . This will trigger a confirmation email to be sent.
5. Confirm via Email: Check your email inbox for a message from TruePeopleSearch. Click the confirmation link inside that email to finalize the opt-out . Your listing should then be removed from the site.

Verification Required: Yes – email confirmation. You must confirm the removal through the link sent to your email. No further ID or phone verification is needed.

Difficulty & Success Rate: TruePeopleSearch’s opt-out process is quick and easy. It usually takes only a few minutes to complete the steps. Once confirmed, records are often removed almost immediately or within a day. The success rate is very high; TruePeopleSearch provides this free removal mechanism and it is known to be effective. Be aware that TruePeopleSearch, like others, updates from public sources – your data might get added again in the future due to new or changed public records. Make it a habit to search your name on the site occasionally. If you reappear, just repeat the removal steps. Generally, though, TruePeopleSearch honors opt-out requests and the process has a high success rate.

Tips for Protecting Personal Information Online

Opting out of these sites is an important step, but keeping your data private requires ongoing effort. Here are some general tips:

• Opt Out of Multiple Sites: Removing yourself from one people-search site doesn’t remove you from others. Each broker has its own database . To truly reduce your exposure, you’ll need to submit opt-outs on all major data broker sites where your info appears. Focus on the big ones (like those above, plus others such as Radaris, PeopleLookup, CheckPeople, etc.). Regularly search for your name to discover new sites and opt out there as well.
• Prevent Future Data Aggregation: Try to limit the personal information that gets into public records or online databases in the first place. For example, minimize what you share on social media (make profiles private and remove public personal details)  . Be cautious about posting things like your full birthday, address, phone number, or email in public forums. The less data available publicly, the less these broker sites can scoop up. You can also use privacy settings or request data removal at the source (for instance, unsubscribe from online directories, and use tools like Google’s removal tool for exposed info ).
• Use Data Removal Services (Automation Tools): Keeping up with dozens of data brokers can be time-consuming. Consider using automated opt-out services that do the work for you. There are paid services (such as Incogni, DeleteMe, OneRep, and others) which will scan broker sites and submit removal requests on your behalf  . These services also continually re-check the sites and resubmit requests if your data pops up again  , saving you a lot of effort. Even DuckDuckGo now offers a Personal Information Removal tool for U.S. users (as part of their Email Protection/Privacy subscription) that automatically handles opt-outs and checks the sites every 10 days for re-listings  . While these services usually charge a fee, they can be worth it for ongoing protection.
• Use Alternate Contact Information: To avoid having your primary contact details spread, use techniques like burner emails and phone numbers for online forms. For instance, when you had to provide an email for opt-outs, it’s wise to use a separate email (one that doesn’t reveal your name) . This way, even if the data broker keeps a record of the email used to opt out, it’s not your main personal or business email. DuckDuckGo’s Email Protection (which provides an email alias) or other email masking tools can help . Similarly, consider using a Google Voice number or other secondary phone number for situations where you must provide a phone (to prevent your real number from being widely shared).
• Regularly Monitor & Re-Opt-Out if Needed: Even after removal, keep an eye on things. Data broker sites often refresh their data and might re-list you after some time  . As a rule of thumb, you should periodically (say, every few months) search for your name on these major sites to see if you have new listings. Many experts suggest doing a sweep of the common people-search sites about every 3–6 months. If you find yourself listed again, submit a new opt-out. (Automated services will do this monitoring for you, but if you’re doing it manually, set calendar reminders to re-check.) Remember that some sites create multiple listings (e.g., variants of your name, or old addresses might each be separate entries), so remove all versions of your profile you find.
• Exercise Your Rights (CCPA/GDPR if applicable): If you live in California or regions with privacy laws, you have legal rights to opt out of the sale of your info or request deletion. Many data brokers provide a “Do Not Sell My Info” link (like MyLife did) or a privacy email for such requests. Using those legal avenues can reinforce your removal request. If a site is not honoring opt-outs, mention that you are exercising rights under CCPA (if in California) or GDPR (if in the EU) in your communications – this can prompt quicker action.
• Be Persistent: Some opt-outs are notoriously tricky – you might need to submit requests multiple times or follow up via email/phone if the online form doesn’t work. Don’t be discouraged. Document your opt-out requests (save confirmation emails or take screenshots). If a site continues to publish your data after you’ve opted out and you’ve given it proper time, consider contacting their support or even sending a formal cease-and-desist letter as a last resort . In most cases, though, a correctly completed opt-out form or email will do the job.

By taking the steps above and remaining vigilant, you can significantly reduce your personal information’s visibility online. Each data broker you remove yourself from is one less hub of personal data accessible to strangers, scammers, or identity thieves. Stay proactive and re-opt-out regularly to maintain your privacy in the long run . Good luck with your privacy journey!

Sources: The opt-out procedures and tips above are compiled from official opt-out pages and expert guides, including DuckDuckGo’s 2025 Data Broker Opt-Out Guides , OneRep’s and Incogni’s removal tutorials , and Cybernews privacy articles . These provide up-to-date, step-by-step information on navigating each site’s removal process. Remember that the landscape can change, so it’s wise to double-check the current instructions on each site when you opt out. Enjoy a safer, more private online presence!