Protect Your Personal Data with California's New Privacy Tool

Posted on 11/08/2026

Data brokers are businesses that gather and sell personal information.

California has launched the Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) that allows you to request the deletion of your personal information from data brokers with a single request by filling out DROP's digital form. The California DROP site allows residents to submit a single request to over 500 data brokers to delete their personal information, helping protect privacy and reduce unwanted data use.

This statewide initiative led by the California Privacy Protection Agency went into effect on August 1, 2026.

To access the platform, request deletion of your personal information, or to learn more, visit: privacy.ca.gov

As a California resident, you have the ability to prohibit your data from being sold and displayed under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and all businesses subject to the law must honor your privacy choices. Data brokers collect a wide range of personal data, including social security numbers, search history, and information about family members, which can be misused or sold without your consent.

To use DROP, you must be a California resident. Verification is done through the California Identity Gateway or Login.gov, which confirms residency while protecting your privacy.

The California Privacy Protection Agency's website also contains additional information, best practices, and guidance on keeping your personal information private.

privacy.ca.gov