Advice: California's free DROP tool has deleted data-broker records for most users who signed up. Here's how it works
More than 550,000 Californians have used DROP. One request can tell 650-plus data brokers to delete and stop selling your info.
ADVICE: If you want fewer spam calls and less of your personal data sold, California's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform, or DROP, is free for state residents, the California Privacy Protection Agency says.
You verify you live in California, create a profile and submit one request that goes to more than 600 registered data brokers. Brokers must check DROP at least every 45 days. Status updates can take up to 90 days.
In an Oct. 6 FAQ, CalPrivacy said more than 550,000 people had signed up by early October. In the first three months after brokers began processing requests on Aug. 1, 99% of consumers had information deleted by at least one broker, and 70% by 100 or more, the agency said. Results vary; some records are legally exempt.
Start at privacy.ca.gov/drop. Daily News does not process requests and cannot check your status for you.
Source: CalPrivacy DROP page and DROP FAQ, Oct. 6, 2026, checked Nov. 5, 2026.