How to Remove Yourself from KiwiSearches

What is KiwiSearches and Why Your Personal Information is Listed There

KiwiSearches is a people search engine that aggregates personal information from public records, social media profiles, court documents, and other data brokers to create detailed profiles on millions of Americans. If you've never heard of KiwiSearches before, you're not alone—but there's a good chance your name, address, phone number, email, and even information about your relatives are already indexed in their database.

Like most data brokers, KiwiSearches operates by scraping publicly available information and purchasing data from other aggregators. They compile this information into searchable profiles that anyone can access, often for a small fee. While they claim to provide a legitimate service for background checks and reconnecting with old friends, the reality is that these databases create significant privacy and security risks for everyday people.

Your data likely ended up on KiwiSearches through several channels: property records from your county assessor's office, voter registration databases, DMV records, social media activity, online purchases, and data shared by other brokers in the vast data ecosystem. Once your information enters this network, it gets recycled and resold across hundreds of sites, which is why removing yourself from one broker rarely solves the problem completely.

The consequences of having your information on KiwiSearches extend beyond simple privacy concerns. Identity thieves use these databases to gather information for social engineering attacks, stalkers can track down current addresses and phone numbers, and scammers can craft more convincing phishing attempts when they know details about your life. Understanding how to remove yourself from KiwiSearches is an essential step in protecting your digital privacy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Your Information from KiwiSearches

Removing your personal information from KiwiSearches requires following their specific opt-out process. While the site makes finding your profile easy, they've made removal slightly more complicated—a common pattern among data brokers. Here's exactly how to delete your KiwiSearches profile:

Step 1: Locate Your Profile on KiwiSearches

Before you can request removal, you need to find your exact profile URL. Navigate to kiwisearches.com and use their search function to find yourself:

• Enter your first name, last name, and state in the search fields
• Click the search button and review the results
• Look through the listings to identify your profile—check the age range, city, and any visible relatives to confirm it's actually you
• Click on your profile to view the full details
• Copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar—you'll need this exact link for the removal request

KiwiSearches may have multiple profiles for you if you've lived in different cities or states. You'll need to repeat the removal process for each distinct profile.

Step 2: Access the KiwiSearches Opt-Out Page

KiwiSearches doesn't prominently advertise their removal process, but they do maintain an opt-out page to comply with state privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). To access it:

• Navigate to the KiwiSearches opt-out page (typically found at the bottom of their site under "Privacy" or "Do Not Sell My Info")
• Look for language about "Opt Out" or "Remove My Information"
• Some data brokers change their opt-out URLs periodically, so if the direct link doesn't work, check their privacy policy page for the current removal instructions

Step 3: Submit Your Removal Request

Once you've located the opt-out form, you'll need to provide specific information:

• Paste the full URL of your profile that you copied in Step 1
• Enter your email address—use an email you check regularly, as they'll send a verification message
• Some versions of their form may request your full name and current address to verify your identity
• Complete any CAPTCHA or verification challenge
• Click the submit button to send your request

Important note: By providing your email address, you're giving KiwiSearches another piece of personal information. Consider using a dedicated privacy email address or an alias specifically for opt-out requests rather than your primary email.

Step 4: Verify Your Email Address

Within a few minutes to a few hours, you should receive a verification email from KiwiSearches:

• Check your inbox (and spam folder) for an email from KiwiSearches
• Open the email and look for a verification link or confirmation button
• Click the link to confirm your opt-out request
• You may be directed to a confirmation page—take a screenshot for your records

Without completing email verification, your removal request will not be processed. This is a deliberate friction point that causes many opt-out attempts to fail.

Step 5: Document Your Request

Creating a paper trail is essential when dealing with data brokers:

• Save the confirmation email from KiwiSearches
• Take screenshots of the opt-out confirmation page
• Note the date you submitted your request
• Keep the original profile URL you submitted

If your information reappears later (which happens frequently), you'll have documentation to reference when submitting a new removal request or filing a complaint with your state attorney general.

What Information Does KiwiSearches Collect and Display?

Understanding exactly what data KiwiSearches exposes helps you assess your risk level and prioritize your privacy efforts. KiwiSearches profiles typically include:

Basic Identifying Information:

• Full legal name and any known aliases or maiden names
• Current and previous addresses going back years or decades
• Age or date of birth (sometimes exact, sometimes just age range)
• Phone numbers (landline and mobile)
• Email addresses

Relationship Data:

• Names of possible relatives
• Names of possible associates and neighbors
• Previous roommates or household members

Public Records:

• Property ownership records
• Bankruptcy filings
• Liens and judgments
• Professional licenses
• Court records (depending on jurisdiction)

Online Activity:

• Social media profile links
• Professional networking profiles
• Public photos scraped from various sources

Financial Indicators:

• Estimated income ranges
• Property values
• Homeownership status

The depth of information varies significantly based on how much public data exists about you. Someone who owns property, has been involved in court cases, or maintains an active social media presence will typically have more extensive profiles than someone who rents, stays out of legal proceedings, and maintains minimal online presence.

What makes KiwiSearches particularly concerning is the aggregation effect—individually, each piece of information might seem harmless, but together they create a comprehensive dossier that can be exploited for identity theft, fraud, or harassment. A scammer who knows your current address, previous addresses, relatives' names, and approximate age has everything needed to convincingly impersonate you to customer service representatives or even your own family members.

How Long Does KiwiSearches Removal Take?

According to KiwiSearches' own policies, removal requests are typically processed within 72 hours to 10 business days after you verify your email. However, the real-world timeline often looks different:

Immediate to 48 hours: Your profile may be suppressed from search results relatively quickly after verification, making it invisible to casual searchers.

7-14 days: Complete removal from their database typically takes up to two weeks. During this period, your profile might still appear intermittently as their systems update.

30+ days: In some cases, users report that profiles remain visible for a month or longer, particularly if there are multiple profiles or if the initial request wasn't properly verified.

Reappearance: Here's the frustrating reality—your information often reappears on KiwiSearches within 3-6 months. This happens because they continuously refresh their database by purchasing new data dumps from other brokers and scraping updated public records. Each time they ingest new data, your information may be re-added, requiring you to start the removal process over again.

State privacy laws have started to address this problem. Under the CCPA (California Civil Code § 1798.105), California residents have the right to request deletion of personal information, and businesses must honor these requests with limited exceptions. The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) include similar provisions. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and data brokers often exploit loopholes by claiming they're republishing "publicly available information."

The cyclical nature of data broker listings is exactly why manual removal becomes unsustainable for most people. With over 2,100 data brokers operating in the United States, keeping your information suppressed across all of them requires submitting hundreds of removal requests and monitoring for reappearance continuously.

How to Verify Your KiwiSearches Removal Was Successful

After submitting your opt-out request and waiting the appropriate timeframe, you need to confirm that your information has actually been removed. Data brokers don't always follow through, and verification helps you catch failures early.

Manual Verification Method

• Clear your browser cache and cookies or use an incognito/private browsing window—this prevents KiwiSearches from recognizing your previous searches
• Return to kiwisearches.com and search for yourself using the same information you used initially
• Check if your profile still appears in the search results
• If you had multiple profiles, verify that each one has been removed
• Try variations of your name (with middle initial, without middle name, etc.) to catch profiles you might have missed

Advanced Verification Techniques

Search from different IP addresses: Use a VPN or search from a different network (mobile data instead of home WiFi) to ensure KiwiSearches isn't showing different results based on your location or previous activity.

Set up monitoring alerts: Some privacy-focused search tools and services can alert you if your name appears on specific sites. While manual monitoring is time-consuming, it helps catch reappearances quickly.

Check related data brokers: KiwiSearches often shares data with other people search sites. If your information remains on related brokers like Radaris, Spokeo, or BeenVerified, it may feed back into KiwiSearches' database during their next update.

What to Do If Your Information Isn't Removed

If your profile remains visible after 14 business days:

• Resubmit your opt-out request using the same process, ensuring you verify the email confirmation
• Document the failure with dated screenshots showing your profile is still active
• Contact KiwiSearches directly if they provide customer service contact information
• File a complaint with your state attorney general's office, particularly if you're a California, Virginia, or Colorado resident protected by state privacy laws
• Consider legal options under applicable state privacy laws—some consumer protection attorneys handle data broker cases

Preventing Future Listings on KiwiSearches and Other Data Brokers

Removing yourself from KiwiSearches once is just the beginning. Preventing your information from reappearing requires a multi-layered approach to privacy:

Limit Public Record Exposure

Voter registration: Many states allow you to register as a confidential voter if you're a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or work in certain professions (law enforcement, judges). Contact your county elections office about confidential voter programs.

Property records: Consider using a trust or LLC to hold property titles, which can obscure your personal name from public property databases. Consult with a real estate attorney about the implications for your specific situation.

Court records: When possible, request that documents containing sensitive personal information be sealed or redacted. This is particularly important in family court matters.

Reduce Your Digital Footprint

Social media privacy: Set all social media profiles to private and review what information is visible to non-friends. Data brokers scrape public social media profiles extensively.

Professional profiles: Be selective about what you share on LinkedIn and professional directories. You need enough presence to be credible, but avoid listing personal phone numbers or home addresses.

Online accounts: Use different email addresses for different purposes—one for financial accounts, one for shopping, one for social media. This compartmentalization limits how much data brokers can connect about you.

Data minimization: Before providing personal information to any website or service, ask whether it's truly necessary. Many fields marked as "required" aren't actually mandatory.

Understand Data Broker Ecosystems

Data brokers don't operate in isolation—they form a complex ecosystem where information flows between hundreds of companies. KiwiSearches likely obtains data from:

• Core data aggregators like Acxiom, Epsilon, and Experian that compile information from thousands of sources
• Specialized people search sites like Whitepages, Spokeo, and Intelius
• Public record resellers that package government data for commercial use
• Web scraping operations that harvest information from social media and websites

Removing yourself from KiwiSearches alone means your information will likely reappear when they purchase their next data update from upstream sources. Comprehensive privacy protection requires addressing the entire ecosystem, which is why services that monitor and remove from 2,100+ brokers are significantly more effective than trying to tackle a handful of high-profile sites manually.

Legal Protections and Your Rights

Several privacy laws provide removal rights, though their effectiveness varies:

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Gives California residents the right to request deletion of personal information and opt out of data sales. Data brokers must honor these requests within 45 days.

Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA): Provides similar rights to Virginia residents, effective January 2023.

Colorado Privacy Act (CPA): Extends comparable protections to Colorado residents.

Vermont Data Broker Law: Requires data brokers to register with the state and pay an annual fee, creating more accountability.

However, these laws include exceptions for "publicly available information," which data brokers exploit by claiming they're simply republishing public records. Legal challenges to these interpretations are ongoing, but for now, data brokers continue operating with relatively few restrictions in most states.

The Case for Automated Data Broker Removal

If you've followed the steps above, you've invested 30-60 minutes removing yourself from just one data broker. Now consider that your information likely appears on dozens or hundreds of similar sites, each with their own opt-out process, verification requirements, and timelines.

The math becomes overwhelming quickly:

• 2,100+ active data brokers in the United States
• 30-45 minutes average per manual removal
• 3-6 month reappearance cycle requiring repeated removals
• New brokers emerging regularly as the industry grows

Even if you focused only on the top 50 data brokers, you'd spend 25-40 hours on initial removals, then need to repeat the process 2-3 times per year to keep information suppressed. For most people with jobs, families, and other responsibilities, this simply isn't sustainable.

This is where automated removal services provide genuine value. GhostMyData uses 24 AI agents to continuously scan 2,100+ data brokers—not just the 35-500 covered by competing services—and automatically submit removal requests on your behalf. The system monitors for reappearances and resubmits removals when your information resurfaces, creating ongoing protection rather than a one-time cleanup.

The difference in coverage matters significantly. If you use a service that only covers 50 data brokers, you're leaving your information exposed on thousands of other sites. Those uncovered brokers continue selling your data, which eventually feeds back into the brokers you did remove from, creating a cycle of reappearance. Comprehensive coverage across the full data broker ecosystem is essential for effective privacy protection.

You can start with a free scan to see exactly where your information appears across the data broker landscape. The scan shows you which sites have your data and what they're exposing, giving you a clear picture of your privacy exposure before you decide on a removal strategy.

For those comparing options, our service comparison breaks down how different privacy services stack up in terms of broker coverage, automation capabilities, and ongoing monitoring. The reality is that data privacy is an ongoing process, not a one-time project, and the tools you choose should reflect that reality.

FAQ: KiwiSearches Removal and Data Privacy

How did KiwiSearches get my information in the first place?

KiwiSearches obtains personal information through multiple channels: purchasing bulk data from other data brokers and aggregators, scraping public records from government databases (property records, court filings, voter registration), harvesting information from social media profiles and websites, and buying data from companies you've done business with. Once your information enters the data broker ecosystem through any of these sources, it gets recycled and resold across hundreds of sites. This is why you'll often find your information on data brokers you've never heard of—they're purchasing it from other companies rather than collecting it directly from you.

Is it legal for KiwiSearches to publish my personal information without permission?

In most cases, yes—it's currently legal under federal law. Data brokers argue they're republishing "publicly available information" from government records and other public sources, which has traditionally been protected as free speech. However, state privacy laws are beginning to restrict these practices. The CCPA in California, VCDPA in Virginia, and similar laws in Colorado and other states give residents the right to request deletion and opt out of data sales. The legal landscape is evolving rapidly, with more states considering comprehensive privacy legislation. Even where it's technically legal, the practice of aggregating and selling personal information raises serious ethical concerns and creates substantial security risks for consumers.

Will removing myself from KiwiSearches delete my information from other data brokers?

No, removing yourself from KiwiSearches only affects that specific site. Data brokers operate independently with separate databases, so you need to submit individual opt-out requests to each one. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of data privacy—there's no central opt-out registry that removes you from all brokers simultaneously. Even more challenging, data brokers continuously share and purchase data from each other