You cannot erase your name from the entire internet, but you can remove it from the places where it appears most often
Your name shows up online in hundreds of places you did not put it there — data broker websites, old social media posts, news archives, public records databases, and search engine results. You cannot delete all of it, and you cannot force Google to forget you exist. What you can do is remove your information from the sites that collect and sell it, ask search engines to stop showing certain pages about you, and delete the accounts and posts you control directly.
The fastest results come from targeting data brokers first, since they are the source of much of what appears in search results. After that, you work through your own accounts and ask search engines to delist specific pages. This takes time — weeks or months — but it works.
Key Takeaways
- Data broker websites collect your name, address, phone number, and other details from public records and sell them to anyone who pays; removing yourself from these sites has the biggest impact on what shows up in search results.
- You can ask Google and Bing to stop showing specific pages about you in search results, though this does not delete the pages themselves.
- Deleting old social media accounts, posts, and comments removes content you control directly and prevents it from being indexed by search engines.
- Some information — court records, property records, mugshots — lives on government or news sites and cannot be removed, though you may be able to request it be taken down in specific cases.
- This process requires contacting multiple websites individually; there is no single button that erases your name everywhere.
Remove yourself from data broker and people search websites
Data brokers are companies that collect your personal information from public records, purchase history, and other sources, then sell access to that data. Sites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruthFinder, Whitepages, and Intelius display your name, address, phone number, and sometimes family members' information. These sites are often the first results when someone searches your name.
Each site has its own removal process, usually found in a "Privacy" or "Remove My Information" link at the bottom of the page. Most require you to verify your identity by confirming your address or answering security questions. Some charge a fee to remove your information, though many offer a free removal option that takes longer. Visit each site individually, find the removal request form, and follow their specific steps. Keep a list of which sites you have contacted and when, since you may need to follow up if your information reappears later.
This is tedious work — there are dozens of these sites — but it is the single most effective step you can take. Once your information is off data brokers, it stops feeding into search results and other websites that pull from them.
Request removal from Google Search and Bing
Google and Bing let you ask them to stop showing specific pages in search results. This does not delete the page itself; it just removes the link from their search engine. Go to Google's removal tool at google.com/webmasters/tools/removals or Bing's removal tool at bing.com/webmaster/tools. You will need to verify that you own or control the website, or you can request removal as a private individual if the page contains your personal information.
For pages you do not control — like an old news article or a data broker site you have not yet removed yourself from — use the "Request removal" option and explain why the page should be delisted. Google and Bing do not always grant these requests, but they often do if the page contains sensitive personal information like your home address or phone number. The removal usually takes a few days to a few weeks to show up in search results.
Delete your own social media accounts and old posts
Search engines index your public social media posts, old blog entries, and forum comments. If you have accounts you no longer use, deleting them removes that content from the internet entirely. Go through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and any other platforms where you have a presence. Delete old posts that contain personal information or that you simply do not want associated with your name anymore.
For accounts you want to keep, make your profile private so search engines cannot index your posts. On Facebook, go to Settings > Privacy and set "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends only" or "Only me". On Twitter, turn on "Protect your posts" in Settings > Privacy and Safety. On Instagram, switch to a private account in Settings > Privacy. This does not remove old public posts that were already indexed, but it prevents new posts from appearing in search results.
Deleting an account does not happen instantly. Most platforms keep your data for 30 days in case you change your mind, and search engines take weeks to remove indexed pages from their results. Be patient and check back in a month to confirm the pages are gone from search results.
Contact websites directly to request removal
If your information appears on a news site, forum, blog, or other website you do not control, look for a contact form or email address and ask the site owner to remove the page or your personal information from it. Be specific: explain which page contains your information and why you want it removed. Many site owners will take down old posts or remove sensitive details like your phone number or address.
News sites are less likely to remove articles, since they consider them part of the public record. However, if an article contains inaccurate information about you, you can ask for a correction or retraction. If the site refuses, you have limited options — you cannot force them to delete it, but you can ask search engines to delist it, which is often enough to keep it from showing up when someone searches your name.
Handle mugshots, court records, and public documents
If your name appears in court records, property records, or mugshot databases, you are dealing with information that is legally public and much harder to remove. Mugshot websites in particular are designed to display arrest records and charge money to remove them. Some states have passed laws requiring these sites to remove mugshots if charges were dropped or you were acquitted, but enforcement is weak.
For court records and property records, contact the courthouse or county assessor directly and ask whether the record can be sealed or removed. This is possible in some cases — for example, if you were arrested but not charged, or if you have had your record expunged. For mugshots, check whether your state has a law requiring removal; if it does, send a certified letter to the website with proof that charges were dropped or you were acquitted.
If a mugshot site refuses to remove your information, you can ask Google to delist the page from search results. This will not remove the page itself, but it will keep it from appearing when someone searches your name.
Monitor your name in search results going forward
After you have removed your information from data brokers and requested delisting from search engines, set up a Google Alert for your name. Go to google.com/alerts, enter your name in quotes (like "John Smith"), and choose how often you want to be notified. Google will email you whenever your name appears in new search results, which helps you catch new pages that need removal.
Check your search results every few months. Data brokers sometimes re-add your information, old pages get republished on new sites, and new content about you may appear. When you spot something you want removed, follow the same steps: contact the site directly, request removal from search engines, or ask a data broker to remove you again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a website for publishing my personal information?
It depends on what information and which website. If a data broker is selling your information illegally or a website published false information that harmed your reputation, you may have a legal claim. Contact a lawyer who specializes in privacy or defamation law. Most initial consultations are free, and some lawyers work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you win.
Will removing my information from Google stop it from appearing on other search engines?
No. You need to request removal from each search engine separately. Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and other search engines have their own removal tools. However, removing your information from data brokers and the original websites has the biggest impact, since that stops the information from being available to any search engine.
How long does it take to remove my name from search results?
Data broker removals usually take two to four weeks. Search engine delisting takes a few days to a few weeks. Deleting social media accounts takes about 30 days. Some information — like court records and news articles — may never be fully removed, though you can reduce how easily it is found by removing it from data brokers and search engines.
What if a data broker keeps re-adding my information after I remove it?
Some data brokers re-add information from public records automatically. If this happens, contact the site again and request permanent removal. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Some states have laws requiring data brokers to honor removal requests permanently; check your state's attorney general website to see if yours does.
Can I remove my information from government websites like court records or property records?
Not usually. Government records are public by law. However, you can ask a court to seal records in certain cases, or you can ask a county assessor to remove your address from the publicly searchable version of property records while keeping the record itself. Contact your local courthouse or county office to ask what options are available in your area.