How to Remove Yourself from LocatePeople

If you've ever Googled yourself and found your personal information staring back at you on LocatePeople, you're not alone. This data broker aggregates public records, online activity, and third-party data sources to build detailed profiles on millions of Americans—then makes that information searchable to anyone with internet access. Your home address, phone numbers, relatives' names, and even past residences could be just a few clicks away for stalkers, identity thieves, or anyone curious enough to look.

The good news? You have the legal right to remove yourself from LocatePeople. The process isn't exactly advertised on their homepage, but it exists. This guide walks you through the complete LocatePeople removal process, explains what data they collect, and shows you how to verify your information is actually gone—not just hidden temporarily.

What Is LocatePeople and Why Your Data Is There

LocatePeople operates as a people search engine that compiles information from public records databases, social media platforms, commercial data sources, and other data brokers. The site monetizes this aggregated data by offering premium reports to users who want detailed background information on individuals.

Your data likely ended up on LocatePeople through several channels:

• Public records: Court documents, property records, voter registration files, marriage and divorce records, and professional licenses are all publicly accessible and regularly scraped by data brokers
• Data broker networks: LocatePeople purchases bulk data from other aggregators who compile information from hundreds of sources
• Social media harvesting: Publicly available social media profiles provide additional context like location check-ins, employer information, and social connections
• Commercial transactions: Warranty registrations, loyalty programs, magazine subscriptions, and online purchases often include data-sharing clauses buried in terms of service
• Web scraping: Automated bots continuously crawl the internet for any publicly posted information containing names, addresses, and phone numbers

The site doesn't create this information—it aggregates and indexes what's already scattered across the internet and public databases. However, by consolidating everything in one searchable location, LocatePeople makes it exponentially easier for anyone to access your personal details. This centralization creates privacy risks that didn't exist when the same information was fragmented across dozens of obscure sources.

Step-by-Step LocatePeople Opt Out Process

Removing yourself from LocatePeople requires following their specific opt-out procedure. Unlike some data brokers that make removal deliberately difficult, LocatePeople does maintain a functional opt-out mechanism—though it's not prominently advertised. Here's the complete process:

Finding Your Profile

Before you can request removal, you need to locate your exact profile URL:

• Navigate to locatepeople.org in your web browser
• Use the search function to find yourself by entering your full name and state
• Review the search results carefully—there may be multiple profiles if you've lived in different locations or if there are people with similar names
• Click through to view each potential match and identify which profile(s) belong to you
• Copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar for each profile you want removed (you'll need this exact URL for the opt-out request)

Take note of all the information displayed. This baseline lets you verify later whether removal was successful or if data reappeared.

Submitting Your Removal Request

Once you've identified your profile(s):

• Go to locatepeople.org/opt-out (some versions of the site may list this as a "Privacy Policy" or "Do Not Sell My Info" link in the footer)
• You'll need to provide:

- The exact URL of your profile(s)

- Your full name as it appears on the listing

- Your current email address (use one you check regularly)

- Your current address for verification purposes

• Complete any CAPTCHA or verification step to prove you're not a bot
• Submit the form and save a screenshot of the confirmation page with timestamp

Some users report that LocatePeople may require additional identity verification, particularly if the profile contains sensitive information or if there are multiple profiles with the same name. Be prepared to provide additional documentation if requested.

Important Timing Considerations

The submission timestamp matters. Under California's CCPA, data brokers must process verified opt-out requests within 45 days, with a possible 45-day extension if necessary. Other state privacy laws have similar timeframes. Document when you submitted your request so you can follow up if the deadline passes without action.

Following Up on Your Request

After submitting your opt-out request:

• Check the email address you provided for confirmation messages (check spam folders too)
• LocatePeople should send an acknowledgment, though not all data brokers are consistent about this
• Mark your calendar for 10-14 days from submission to check if your profile has been removed
• If you don't receive confirmation within 5 business days, consider submitting a second request

Keep all confirmation emails and screenshots. If LocatePeople fails to honor your request, this documentation becomes essential if you need to file a complaint with your state attorney general or consumer protection agency.

What Information LocatePeople Collects and Displays

Understanding exactly what data LocatePeople aggregates helps you assess your privacy risk and determine whether removal is urgent for your situation. The site typically displays:

Basic Identifying Information:

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

Relationship Data:

• Names of relatives (parents, siblings, children, spouses)
• Known associates and roommates
• Neighbors at current and past addresses

Background Information:

• Property ownership records
• Estimated property values
• Possible employment history
• Education background
• Professional licenses

Public Records:

• Court records (civil and criminal, depending on jurisdiction)
• Bankruptcy filings
• Liens and judgments
• Marriage and divorce records

The depth of information varies significantly based on your digital footprint and public record history. Someone who's owned property, registered to vote, obtained professional licenses, or been involved in court proceedings will typically have more extensive profiles than someone with minimal public record presence.

LocatePeople also assigns a "background check" score or indicator suggesting how much additional information might be available through paid reports. These premium reports may include more detailed criminal records, financial history, and social media analysis—though the accuracy of aggregated data broker information is notoriously questionable.

How Long LocatePeople Removal Takes

Based on user reports and the site's stated policies, LocatePeople removal typically takes 7-14 days from the time you submit a verified opt-out request. However, several factors affect this timeline:

Verification Requirements: If LocatePeople needs additional proof of identity, the process extends by however long it takes you to provide documentation and for them to review it. This is more common if:

• Multiple people share your name
• The profile contains sensitive information
• You're requesting removal of numerous profiles
• There are discrepancies between your request details and profile information

Processing Backlogs: Data brokers receive thousands of opt-out requests. During periods of high volume (such as after major data breaches or privacy law changes), processing times can extend to the legal maximum of 45 days.

Technical Refresh Cycles: Even after LocatePeople removes your profile from their active database, cached versions may persist temporarily in search results or on their servers. Complete removal across all systems may take an additional few days beyond the initial takedown.

Database Repopulation: Here's the frustrating reality—removal from LocatePeople isn't necessarily permanent. The site continuously refreshes its database with new public records and purchased data. If new information about you enters their data sources, a new profile may be created weeks or months after successful removal. This is why ongoing monitoring is essential.

Under the CCPA (California Civil Code § 1798.105), California residents have the right to request deletion of personal information, and businesses must comply within 45 days. Similar provisions exist in Virginia's CDPA, Colorado's CPA, Connecticut's CTDPA, and Utah's UCPA. If you're a resident of these states and LocatePeople exceeds the legal timeframe without justification, you have grounds to file a complaint with your state attorney general.

How to Verify Your LocatePeople Removal

Submitting an opt-out request is only half the battle—you need to confirm your information was actually removed and stays removed. Here's how to verify:

Immediate Verification (7-14 Days After Request)

• Direct site search: Return to locatepeople.org and search for yourself using the same parameters as your original search. Try variations:

- Full name + current state

- Full name + previous states where you've lived

- Name variations (nicknames, middle name, maiden name)

• URL check: Visit the exact URL of your original profile that you saved. It should return a "not found" error or redirect to the homepage

• Google search: Search Google for `site:locatepeople.org "Your Full Name"` to find any cached or indexed pages that mention you. Google's cache can persist even after a page is removed, but new crawls should eventually clear these

Ongoing Monitoring (Monthly)

Set a calendar reminder to check monthly for the first six months, then quarterly thereafter:

• Repeat the search variations listed above
• Check for new profiles that might have been created from fresh data sources
• Search for your phone number and email address on the site, not just your name
• Use quotation marks in searches for exact phrase matching

Third-Party Verification Tools

Consider using privacy monitoring services or Google Alerts:

• Set up a Google Alert for `"your name" site:locatepeople.org` to receive notifications if your information reappears
• Privacy monitoring tools can automate this checking process across multiple data brokers simultaneously

What to Do If Your Information Reappears

If you find your profile has been recreated after successful removal:

• Document the new listing with screenshots and URLs
• Submit a new opt-out request, referencing your previous successful removal
• In your request, explicitly ask LocatePeople to suppress your information from future database updates (some data brokers maintain suppression lists specifically for this purpose)
• Consider whether the reappearance represents new data or if LocatePeople failed to honor your original request

Persistent reappearance despite multiple opt-out requests may constitute a violation of state privacy laws, particularly if you're in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, or Utah. Document everything and consider filing a complaint with your state attorney general's consumer protection division.

Preventing Future LocatePeople Listings

Removing your current profile is reactive—preventing future listings requires a proactive privacy strategy. While you can't completely eliminate your digital footprint, these steps significantly reduce data broker exposure:

Limit Public Record Creation

• Opt out of voter registration public access where your state allows (different from opting out of voting itself—many states let you register to vote while restricting public access to your registration details)
• Use a trust or LLC for property purchases to keep your personal name off property records
• Request court record sealing for eligible cases (expunged records, juvenile records, certain civil matters)
• Use a registered agent service if you own a business, keeping your home address off public business filings

Control Your Digital Footprint

• Audit social media privacy settings quarterly—platforms frequently change default settings without notice
• Remove old online accounts you no longer use (abandoned profiles are data goldmines)
• Use unique email addresses for different purposes (shopping, social media, professional) to limit data correlation
• Opt out of data sharing in every service's privacy settings (retail loyalty programs, streaming services, apps)
• Read privacy policies before providing information—look for data sharing and selling clauses

Use Privacy-Protective Tools

• Virtual phone numbers through services like Google Voice or MySudo for online forms and non-essential contacts
• Email aliasing services like SimpleLogin or AnonAddy to create unique forwarding addresses
• Privacy-focused browsers with tracker blocking (Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection, Brave, DuckDuckGo)
• VPNs to mask your IP address and location during browsing
• Payment cards with virtual numbers (Privacy.com, Blur) to prevent transaction data correlation

Regular Data Broker Audits

The most effective prevention strategy is regular monitoring and removal from data brokers before information accumulates:

• Quarterly manual checks of major data brokers (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Intelius, and yes, LocatePeople)
• Document your opt-out requests in a spreadsheet with dates and confirmation numbers
• Set calendar reminders to re-check sites where you've previously removed information

This manual approach works but demands significant time investment. Most people underestimate the scope—there aren't just a handful of data brokers. There are over 2,100 known data broker sites actively collecting and selling personal information. Manually opting out of even the top 50 brokers takes 15-20 hours, and you need to repeat the process quarterly as information reappears.

The Reality of Manual Data Broker Removal

Let's be honest about what you're facing if you choose the manual removal route. Removing yourself from LocatePeople is just one data broker. Your information likely appears on dozens or hundreds of similar sites:

Major people search engines: Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, Intelius, PeopleFinders, TruthFinder, InstantCheckmate, USSearch, PeekYou, Radaris

Specialized data brokers: Sites focusing on specific data types like property records, court records, professional licenses, or social media aggregation

Data broker networks: Many smaller sites purchase data from the same wholesale sources, meaning your information propagates across entire networks

Each site has its own opt-out process with different requirements:

• Some require email verification
• Others demand phone number confirmation
• Many need physical mail requests with notarized identity proof
• Several have deliberately confusing opt-out procedures buried in multi-page privacy policies

The time investment is substantial, and it's ongoing. Data brokers repopulate their databases continuously. A comprehensive privacy strategy requires:

• Initial removal: 15-20 hours to opt out of the top 50-100 brokers
• Quarterly maintenance: 5-10 hours every three months to check for reappearance and new brokers
• Ongoing monitoring: Regular searches to catch new listings before they spread

For privacy-conscious individuals, professionals concerned about personal safety (law enforcement, judges, domestic violence survivors, journalists), or anyone who's experienced identity theft or stalking, this time investment may be worthwhile and necessary.

For everyone else, the question becomes: Is there a more efficient approach?

Automated Removal: The GhostMyData Alternative

This is where automated privacy services like GhostMyData fundamentally change the equation. Rather than spending dozens of hours manually submitting opt-out requests and monitoring for reappearance, automated services handle the entire process continuously.

Here's what makes automated removal different:

Comprehensive Coverage: While you might manually tackle 20-50 data brokers, GhostMyData actively monitors and removes your information from 2,100+ data broker sites—far beyond the 35-500 brokers covered by competing services. This includes LocatePeople plus thousands of lesser-known brokers you'd never find on your own.

AI-Powered Automation: GhostMyData uses 24 specialized AI agents that understand each data broker's unique opt-out requirements. These agents:

• Navigate different opt-out procedures automatically
• Complete verification steps and follow-up requests
• Adapt to changes when data brokers modify their processes
• Submit removal requests in the specific format each broker requires

Continuous Monitoring: Rather than quarterly manual checks, automated systems scan for your information daily or weekly, catching new listings immediately and submitting removal requests before the data spreads to other brokers.

Verification and Re-Removal: When data brokers ignore opt-out requests or your information reappears, the system automatically detects this and resubmits removal requests—no manual follow-up required.

Time Savings: What takes 15-20 hours initially and 5-10 hours quarterly becomes a one-time 5-minute setup. The system handles everything else.

Getting started is straightforward. You can run a free scan to see exactly where your information currently appears across the data broker ecosystem. The scan shows which sites have your data, what information they're displaying, and how exposed you are. From there, you can decide whether manual removal or automated protection makes more sense for your situation.

The pricing is transparent—typically less than the hourly rate you'd pay yourself to manually handle opt-outs, and far less than the potential cost of identity theft, stalking, or other privacy violations that exposed personal information enables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is removing my information from LocatePeople really free?

Yes, LocatePeople is legally required to honor opt-out requests at no cost under various state privacy laws. You should never pay LocatePeople directly for removal. However, the "free" removal comes with a significant time cost—you need to find your profile, submit the request correctly, follow up, and verify removal. Some people find their time is worth more than the cost of an automated service that handles removal from LocatePeople plus thousands of other brokers simultaneously.

Will my information stay removed from LocatePeople permanently?

Unfortunately, no. Data brokers continuously refresh their databases with new public records and purchased data. Even after successful removal, your information may reappear weeks or months later if new data about you enters their sources. This