Charlie Osborne / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Whitepages lets anyone find your personal details online. You can request to remove your data using the opt-out form. Data removal services can handle ongoing opt-out requests. Whitepages is one of the most well-known online repositories of US resident data. Since its inception in 1997, the organization -- which calls itself a US online phone book and address directory -- has recorded names, contact information, public criminal records, and property data. To date, Whitepages claims to have information relating to more than 250 million people nationwide. Also: 5 simple ways to regain your data privacy online - starting today If you've ever searched for yourself on this website by submitting your name, home address, or phone number, you might have found a record. While Whitepages claims the service is designed to help its customers "stay connected, protected, and make informed decisions," these records can be used for spamming individuals, cold calling, robocalling, and more nefarious purposes. If you're wondering how to opt out and remove your information from Whitepages, follow the steps below. How to remove yourself from Whitepages 1. Find out if your data is on Whitepages On the Whitepages landing page, you will find a search bar for names and locations. Submit your name and state (or location), and click search. Show more Charlie Osborne/ZDNET Whitepages is restricted in what it will show you for free. But you should be able to examine some records that may indicate it is your profile. Some public datasets will be available, revealing approximate ages, names, locations, email addresses, and potentially who the person is related to -- as well as any public criminal records. Also: How to delete your 23andMe data ASAP (and why you should) I have blurred certain datasets for privacy. Charlie Osborne/ZDNET 2. View details If you have an adblocker running, you might not be able to scroll down beyond the first page. Consider temporarily disabling it so you can view your full results. Also: This infamous people search site is back after leaking 3 billion records - how to remove your data from it ASAP Find what you believe is your profile and click "View details." Do not click "View Full Report," as this requires payment. Show more I have blurred certain datasets for privacy. Charlie Osborne/ZDNET 3. Visit the Whitepages opt-out page Keep your record open. In a new tab, visit the address whitepages.com/suppression-requests. Go back to your record page, copy the URL from the address bar, and submit the URL into the tab on the Whitepages Opt-out page. Click "Next." You will then be asked to confirm that this is the record you want to remove. Click "Remove Me." Show more Charlie Osborne/ZDNET 4. Select a reason Whitepages will now want to know why you want it removed. You have four options: My profile information is incorrect I am receiving junk calls and spam mailings I am being harassed or stalked by someone I just want to keep my information private You can also add a comment if you wish. Once you have chosen an option, click "Next." Show more Charlie Osborne/ZDNET 5. Verification Whitepages will now require a phone number, saying, "You will receive a call from a friendly Whitepages robot and be asked to supply a verification code." If your phone number is already included in the record, you may not care too much about submitting it, but if you would prefer not to (understandably!), consider signing up for a temporary number service online. Many are only a few bucks or offer a free trial that you can take advantage of. Also: I found the easiest way to delete myself from the internet - and it's fast On the call, you will be given a verification code that you will need to submit to Whitepages on the next page to wrap up your request. Show more Charlie Osborne/ZDNET You can also reach out to Whitepages directly via customer support or email ([email protected]) to submit a request. In theory, that's it! You should be told that your data removal request has been received. However, there's no definitive timeline on when (and if) your record is removed, and there may also be multiple profiles on you that require you to complete the steps above for each record. There are numerous complaints related to removal on the Whitepages Better Business Bureau page. Also: How to remove your personal info from Google Search - it's quick and easy It is also possible that your record will reappear in the future, requiring you to undergo this process again. Furthermore, if you are listed as a family member on someone else's profile, these familial ties will not be affected. 6. An alternative method You don't have to manually go through the process of trying to remove yourself from Whitepages. Alternatively, we recommend using a dedicated data removal service. Also: Incogni vs. DeleteMe: I compared the two best data removal services, and there's a clear winner A data removal service is a company that handles the data removal request process on your behalf. You will need to provide them with some basic information, such as your name and potentially an email address, phone number, or location. Once this is done, the service will locate your records and automatically send out removal requests. Data removal services tend to run automatic removal systems, and so if your information reappears, another request will be made without any additional input. However, you can reach out to them if you need help with a specific website or data broker. Also: The best data removal services of 2025: Delete yourself from the internet All reputable data removal services will provide you with an account, reports, and hopefully a dashboard so you can keep track of requests made, records removed, and how many suppression (opt-out) lists you have been added to. Show more An example of the dashboard in my account. Charlie Osborne/ZDNET Our favorite data removal services include Incogni and DeleteMe. FAQs Is using Whitepages legal? Yes, as Whitepages collects and displays publicly available information. Even though many would argue that the fact this service exists at all is invasive and can certainly be uncomfortable for anyone listed on the website, it is a legal practice and could be compared to how old phone books used to work -- you could look up someone's phone number or a business address, but the option to opt out existed. Do data brokers and people search websites have to remove my information when I request it? While many data brokers may ensure the process is time-consuming and a hassle to deter individuals from trying to have their records removed, yes, they must comply if you request it, but with caveats. Also: This new tool lets you see how much of your data is exposed online - and it's free This only applies to data brokers and people search websites that operate under data protection laws such as California's Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) or the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If a record is public, they may also not be obliged to remove it -- such as in the case of property listings in specific US states. Websites that are illegally storing information or outside of data privacy law jurisdictions may ignore data removal requests. Is my information permanently removed? It depends on the service. Sometimes, data brokers and people search websites use automated data collection systems and algorithms to update their databases. As a result, even if you have previously submitted a record removal request and your information has been removed, it may reappear within a month or so. Also: The one-click Linux app I use for instant online anonymity You can sometimes request to be added to lists that prevent your data from being reintroduced in the future, but this is where data removal services often come in useful -- as they will consistently scan, send removal requests, and apply for you to be added to these lists on your behalf. Show more