What is data broker removal?

Data broker removal is the process of requesting that companies that collect and sell your personal information — data brokers — delete your data from their databases. This article explains what it is, why it matters, and how you can do it.

Why data brokers have your data

Data brokers aggregate information from many sources: public records, online activity, purchase history, loyalty programs, and app usage. They build detailed profiles and sell access to marketers, insurers, employers, and others. Most people have never heard of the specific brokers holding their data, yet those companies may have your name, addresses, phone numbers, family links, and more.

Your legal rights

Laws such as the CCPA (California), GDPR (Europe), and various state privacy laws give you the right to:

• Know what data a broker has about you
• Delete or opt out of the sale of that data
• Correct inaccurate information

Each broker has its own process: some use web forms, others require email or mail. Exercising these rights across hundreds of brokers manually is time-consuming.

What “removal” actually means

When you request removal, the broker should delete or stop selling your profile. Some brokers remove you entirely; others restrict use. Verification is important — brokers sometimes re-add data from ongoing collection, so monitoring and repeat requests are often needed.

How automated removal works

Services like Locko.AI automate the process: they find which brokers list you, submit opt-out and deletion requests on your behalf, and verify outcomes. Automation scales across 700+ brokers and can re-run when data reappears, giving you ongoing protection without spending hundreds of hours yourself.