What is National Public Data and Why Your Information is There

National Public Data is one of the largest data brokers in the United States, operating as a people search platform that aggregates personal information from thousands of public and semi-public sources. If you've ever searched for someone online and found their address, phone number, and family connections displayed in search results, there's a good chance that information came from National Public Data or similar brokers.

Your data ended up in National Public Data's database through a combination of legal data collection methods:

Public records: Court documents, property records, voter registration lists, and marriage licenses
Commercial sources: Utility companies, financial institutions, and subscription services
Social media: Information you've shared publicly on various platforms
Data exchanges: Purchases from other data brokers and information aggregators
Voluntary submissions: Surveys, contests, and online registrations you've completed

National Public Data operates legally in most jurisdictions, but that doesn't mean your information should remain publicly accessible. Many people are concerned about having their personal details searchable by strangers, which is why national public data removal has become increasingly important for privacy-conscious individuals.

Understanding What National Public Data Collects

Before removing yourself from National Public Data, it helps to understand exactly what information they've compiled about you.

Types of Personal Information Collected

National Public Data typically maintains records including:

Full name and aliases
Current and historical addresses
Phone numbers (mobile and landline)
Email addresses
Age and date of birth
Family member names and relationships
Property ownership information
Professional licenses and credentials
Social media profiles and usernames

How This Information is Used

Data brokers like National Public Data monetize your information by:

Selling access to background check companies
Providing data to people search websites
Offering information to marketers and advertisers
Supplying records to financial institutions for credit decisions
Enabling skip tracing for debt collection agencies

Understanding this ecosystem is crucial because removing yourself from National Public Data is just one step in a comprehensive privacy strategy. Your information may appear on dozens of other data broker sites simultaneously.

Step-by-Step Guide to National Public Data Opt Out

Here's how to remove yourself from National Public Data:

Step 1: Visit the National Public Data Removal Page

Go to the National Public Data website
Look for their "Opt Out" or "Remove My Information" page
This is typically found in the footer or privacy section of their site
Some data brokers make this intentionally difficult to find, so be patient

Step 2: Locate Your Profile

Use their search tool to find your listing
Enter your full name and state
Review all profiles that match your information
Note the profile URL or ID number for your records

Step 3: Submit Your Removal Request

Click the removal or opt-out option on your profile
You may need to verify your identity
Follow their specific verification process (usually involves confirming your email or phone)
Some brokers require you to submit a formal request through their privacy form

Step 4: Confirm Your Request

Check your email for a confirmation message
Keep this confirmation for your records
Some services may ask for additional verification
Save screenshots of your request submission

Step 5: Follow Up if Necessary

If you don't receive confirmation within 5-7 business days, follow up
Request a case number or reference ID
Document all communication attempts
Consider escalating if the broker doesn't respond

How Long Does National Public Data Removal Take?

The timeline for national public data removal varies depending on several factors:

Initial processing: 3-7 business days for your request to be reviewed
Verification period: 2-5 business days for identity confirmation
Database update: 7-30 days for the information to be removed from their active listings
Search engine indexing: 30-60 days for search engines to de-index old pages

In total, complete removal can take 60-90 days from initial request to full de-indexing. This is why patience and documentation are essential. If you don't see results after 90 days, your removal request may have been lost or improperly processed.

How to Verify Your Removal

After submitting your delete national public data request, you should verify that it actually worked:

Immediate Verification Steps

Wait at least 7-10 days after submission
Search for your name on National Public Data's website
Try variations of your name (first initial, nickname, etc.)
Search with different address formats
Document whether your profile still appears

Extended Verification

Set a calendar reminder for 30 days after removal
Search again on National Public Data
Check if your information appears in Google search results
Use Google's removal tool if cached versions still appear
Repeat monthly for 3 months to ensure removal sticks

What to Do if Removal Fails

If your information reappears after removal:

File a complaint with your state's attorney general
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Send a formal cease-and-desist letter
Request removal again with documented proof of previous removal
Consider consulting with a privacy attorney

Preventing Future Data Listings

Removing yourself from National Public Data is temporary relief if you don't address the underlying problem: continuous data collection.

Reduce Public Records Exposure

Opt out of voter registration databases where legal
Request non-disclosure of your address from property records
Use privacy protections for utility accounts
Limit information on professional licensing databases

Control Your Online Presence

Adjust privacy settings on all social media platforms
Remove personal information from old websites and forums
Request removal from archived versions of websites using archive.org
Use privacy-focused email providers
Consider using a P.O. Box instead of your home address for registrations

Opt Out of Other Data Brokers

National Public Data is just one of dozens of data brokers. You should also remove yourself from:

Spokeo
BeenVerified
Whitepages
PeopleFinder
Intelius
And many others

This is a time-consuming process that requires individual removal requests for each broker. This is where a dedicated service becomes valuable.

The Limitations of Manual Removal

While you can manually remove yourself from National Public Data, this approach has significant drawbacks:

Time-consuming: Each data broker requires separate requests
Incomplete: New data brokers emerge constantly
Temporary: Information may be re-added if not addressed at source
Difficult to track: Hard to verify removal across multiple sites
Error-prone: Easy to miss steps or forget follow-ups

Most privacy experts estimate that completely removing yourself from all data brokers manually takes 20-30+ hours of work. For many people, this isn't practical.

Alternative: Automated Removal with GhostMyData

This is where GhostMyData comes in. Rather than spending dozens of hours manually contacting data brokers, GhostMyData automates the entire national public data opt out process.

How GhostMyData Works

GhostMyData's service handles removal from National Public Data and 200+ other data brokers automatically:

Initial scan: We search the internet for all your personal data
Automated removal: We submit removal requests to all applicable data brokers
Verification: We confirm that your information has been removed
Ongoing monitoring: We continuously scan for new listings
Re-removal: If your data reappears, we remove it again at no extra cost

Why Choose Automated Removal

Comprehensive: Covers National Public Data plus 200+ other brokers
Efficient: Complete process takes days instead of months
Verified: We confirm removal, not just submit requests
Ongoing protection: Continuous monitoring prevents re-listing
Expert guidance: Our team handles complex cases and disputes

Start your free scan today to see where your data appears online.

Relevant Privacy Laws and Your Rights

Understanding your legal rights strengthens your removal requests:

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

California residents have the right to:

Know what personal information is collected
Delete personal information
Opt out of data sales
Request a copy of their data

National Public Data must honor these requests within 45 days.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

If you're in the EU or have EU connections, GDPR provides:

Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Right to data portability
Right to restrict processing
Stronger penalties for non-compliance

State-Specific Laws

Many states now have privacy laws similar to CCPA:

Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act
Colorado Privacy Act
Connecticut Data Privacy Act
Utah Consumer Privacy Act

Reference these laws in your removal requests to strengthen your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for National Public Data to collect my information?

Yes, National Public Data operates legally by aggregating publicly available information. However, you have the legal right to request removal in most jurisdictions, especially under CCPA and GDPR. Even where you don't have explicit legal rights, most data brokers honor removal requests as a matter of policy.

Will removing myself from National Public Data stop all unwanted calls and emails?

Partial removal from National Public Data will help, but it's not a complete solution. Your information is on dozens of other data brokers and public sources. For maximum protection, you need to remove yourself from all major data brokers. This is why comprehensive services like GhostMyData are more effective than removing yourself from a single broker.

Can I remove my information permanently?

Permanent removal is challenging because data brokers continuously re-collect information from public sources. However, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint and prevent re-listing by controlling your public information at the source (property records, voter registration, etc.) and using ongoing monitoring services.

How do I know if my removal request was actually processed?

After 7-10 days, search for yourself on National Public Data directly. If your profile no longer appears, it was processed. Keep documentation of your removal request email and confirmation. If you don't receive confirmation within a week, follow up with their privacy department directly.

What should I do if National Public Data refuses to remove my information?

First, verify that you've followed their removal process correctly. If they refuse without valid reason, you can file a complaint with the FTC or your state's attorney general, especially if you're in a CCPA or GDPR jurisdiction. You may also consider consulting a privacy attorney if your situation is serious.

Take Control of Your Privacy Today

Your personal information is valuable—to data brokers, marketers, and potentially bad actors. While you have the right to remove yourself from National Public Data and other brokers, doing so manually is time-consuming and incomplete.

GhostMyData removes you from National Public Data and 200+ other data brokers automatically, with verification and ongoing monitoring. Instead of spending weeks on manual removal requests, you can reclaim your privacy in days.

Start your free scan to see exactly where your data appears online, or compare our service with other privacy solutions. Your digital privacy is worth protecting—let us handle the hard part.