Have you ever Googled your name and found a result from a "people search" site like Whitepages, Spokeo, or Intelius? These sites seem to know everything about you: your age, past addresses, phone numbers, family members, and maybe even your political affiliations. It can be a little creepy, right? You didn't give them this information, so how do they have it, and more importantly, what can you do about it?
The Business of Data
People search sites are a type of "data broker." These companies specialize in collecting, storing, and selling personal information on millions of people. They don’t just get this data from one place; they pull it from a huge variety of sources, including:
- Public Records: This is a goldmine for them. They scrape data from things like voter registrations, property deeds, court records, marriage licenses, and criminal histories.
- Social Media: If your social media profiles are public, they can easily grab your name, photos, location, and even who you're connected to.
- Other Data Brokers: These companies often buy and sell information to each other, creating a vast network of personal data that's hard to track.
- Online Activity: They can also collect information from your online shopping habits, surveys, and other online interactions.
The result is a detailed profile of you that they can sell to anyone willing to pay for it. While some people use these sites for legitimate reasons, like finding an old friend, they can also be used by scammers, stalkers, and identity thieves to target you.
Taking Control: The Opt-Out Process
The good news is that you can fight back! You have the right to ask these companies to remove your information. It's called "opting out." The bad news is that it can be a tedious process, as you have to go to each site individually.
Here’s a general game plan:
- Find Yourself: Search for your own name, phone number, and address on a few popular people search sites. Make a list of every site that has your information.
- Find the Opt-Out Page: On each site, look for a link at the bottom of the page that says something like "Do Not Sell My Info," "Privacy Policy," or "Opt-Out."
- Follow the Instructions: Each site has its own process. You might have to fill out a form, provide your email, or even verify your identity. Be careful not to give them more information than they already have!
- Confirm and Repeat: After you submit your request, you may need to confirm it by clicking a link in an email they send you. The work isn't over, though! Since these sites constantly pull from public records, your information might reappear in the future. You'll need to repeat this process every few months to keep your data off the sites.
If you don't have the time to do this yourself, there are services that can do the work for you for a fee. Just make sure you choose a reputable company.
The Bigger Picture
Removing your information from these sites is an important step in protecting your privacy, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. You should also:
- Review Your Social Media: Check your privacy settings and make sure you're not sharing more than you're comfortable with.
- Be Mindful of Online Habits: Be cautious about filling out online forms or taking quizzes that ask for a lot of personal information.
By taking these proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and make it much harder for these sites to profit from your personal information.
