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CalPrivacy Celebrates Data Privacy Week with Practical Tools like DROP
January 26, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CA — To mark Data Privacy Week (January 26-30), the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) is spotlighting a new, free tool that makes it easier for Californians to take control of their personal information.
Earlier this month, the agency launched the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP), a first-of-its-kind system that allows Californians to request their personal information be deleted from every registered data broker in a single request. DROP serves as the accessible deletion mechanism required by the Delete Act, which was authored by State Senator Josh Becker and signed into law by Governor Newsom. It is funded through data broker registration and access fees.
Since DROP launched on January 1, more than 176,000 Californians have already signed up.
“Exercising your privacy rights should be practical and simple,” said Jennifer M. Urban, California Privacy Protection Board Chairperson. “During Data Privacy Week, we’re especially pleased to highlight some easy steps Californians can take, and free tools they can use, to better protect their personal information.”
Data Privacy Week is a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal information. CalPrivacy is focused on helping consumers take meaningful and simple actions to manage their privacy through tools like DROP.
“It takes about five minutes to submit a request through DROP, and it deletes your personal information from more than 500 data brokers,” said Tom Kemp, Executive Director of CalPrivacy. “These are companies that you generally don’t have a relationship with, but their business model is based on selling your personal information.”
How To Use DROP
Visit privacy.ca.gov/drop and:
- Verify you’re a Californian. Confirm that you are a California resident so your request can be processed.
- Provide basic information about yourself. Providing more information may improve results, but it’s always your choice how much you share.
- Submit your request. Send one request to over 500 registered data brokers. Starting August 1, 2026, data brokers will begin processing requests and must delete data every 45 days.
Subscribe to CalPrivacy’s social media channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for our daily Data Privacy Week Updates including practical privacy tips that consumers can use in their daily lives. For more information about privacy rights, tools, and tips, visit Privacy.ca.gov.
About Us
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) is committed to promoting the education and awareness of consumers’ privacy rights and businesses’ responsibilities under the California Consumer Privacy Act, Delete Act, and Opt Me Out Act.
Consumers can visit Privacy.ca.gov to access helpful and up-to-date information and tips on how to exercise their rights, protect their personal information, and learn about the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP). In addition, CalPrivacy’s website provides important information about Board Meetings, announcements, and the rulemaking process.