How DROP works

Before you start

You can always submit a DROP request with basic information you already know, such as your:

• Name
• Date of birth
• ZIP code
• Email address
• Phone number

Some of the other items you can enter, you may need to find ahead of time. These include your:

• Mobile advertising ID (MAID)
• Connected TV ID
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)

To learn more about these and how to find them, visit Unique identifiers

Step 1
Verify your eligibility

If you are a California resident, you qualify to use DROP.

You’re a resident if any of these apply:

• You live in California
• Domiciled in California, but outside California for a temporary or transitory purpose

A few factors that help determine residency include:

• Location of your primary residence
• Which state issued your driver’s license or ID
• Where you’re registered to vote

Learn more about what qualifies you as a resident.

Verify that you are a California resident by using the California Identity Gateway, or Login.gov. The California Identity Gateway is the State of California’s secure digital identity platform. DROP uses this tool to help confirm residency without creating an account or storing your personal information. 

Get started with DROP

Step 2
Create your profile

You will create a deletion request by entering your data. Data brokers will compare your data with their records.

If there’s a match, all of the data that the data brokers have about you will be deleted, with a few exceptions.

You don’t need to do anything else. Data brokers start processing requests starting in August 2026. As they process requests, your data will be deleted and no longer sold.

The types of data you can submit include:

• Names (including maiden names)
• Date of birth
• ZIP Code
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Mobile Advertising IDs (MAIDs)
• Connected TV IDs
• Vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

It’s your choice what information you provide. The more information you enter, the more likely your data will be deleted. You can add multiples of all data except your date of birth. Visit Unique identifiers for more information.

Step 3
Submit your request

Review the data you entered and submit your deletion request.

Check to make sure all the information you want to provide is included in your request. Only one request is processed at a time.

Your DROP confirmation page will include your DROP ID. It’s important to save your DROP ID. You use it if you want to check the status of your request.

Check your status

You can check your DROP request status starting in August 2026.

DROP statuses include:

• Deleted — Data brokers have deleted your data and will no longer sell your information. However, they are allowed to keep some information because that is exempt by law.
• Exempted — Data brokers are allowed by law to keep the information they have about you because it is all exempt. This data can include public records or certain health information, but it may still be protected under other laws.
• Opted-out — Data brokers couldn’t make an exact match based upon the information you provided. For now, these data brokers still have your data, but can no longer sell it.
• Record not found — Data brokers may not have information about you or could not locate you based on the information you provided.
• Pending — Data brokers haven’t processed your deletion request yet. Under the law, data brokers may take up to 90 days to report back how they processed your request.

If you notice data brokers have not deleted your information, you may need to submit more data so they can find you. Learn about submitting more data below.

Update your request and submit more data

You can come back to submit more data through your DROP profile. You may want to do so if you:

• Change your name
• Get a new phone number, email address, device (MAID), or car (VIN)
• Want to increase the chances data brokers can find and delete your info

Note: Updated requests can be submitted anytime. Data brokers have up to 3 months to process them.

You can submit more data through your DROP profile.

How data brokers process your requests

Data brokers process deletion requests at least every 45 days.

Here’s how it works:

1. When you provide a few pieces of information (such as your email or phone number) data brokers look for a match in their records.
2. If data brokers find a match, they will delete all of the information they can about you — not just the information you provided.

What will be deleted: Your personal information. This includes sensitive information and inferred information (assumptions they have about you based on your data).

There are benefits to deleting this information. Keep in mind, DROP requests may affect certain online experiences. For example, you may receive fewer targeted ads or personalized content.

What won’t be deleted:

• Data given directly to a business (first-party data)
• Exempted data
• Publicly available data

All current and future data brokers who register with our agency are included in your deletion request unless you narrow your request. 

Allowing some data brokers to keep your data

If you want specific data brokers to keep your data, you can remove them on the data broker list page within DROP. You do this by unchecking their box in the Delete data column and selecting Update list.

This means that these data brokers will keep selling your data.

Technical requirements

When using DROP, we recommend that you:

• Use the latest version of your browsers
• Make sure your devices are up-to-date
• Enable cookies and JavaScript

Need help?

Visit Help with DROP for more information or to contact us.