What Data Brokers Know About You and How to Opt Out
Data brokers compile detailed profiles most people never see. Here's what they actually collect and how to push back.
Data brokers are companies that collect, combine, and sell personal information gathered from public records, purchase histories, and other companies, building detailed profiles most people never directly interact with or even know exist.
What these profiles typically include
A data broker's profile can include home address history, estimated income bracket, shopping habits, and even inferred health or lifestyle interests, compiled from dozens of separate sources into a single detailed record sold to advertisers and other buyers.
How to actually push back
Many data brokers are legally required to offer an opt-out process, though it's often deliberately tedious since there are many separate companies to contact individually; dedicated opt-out services exist that handle these requests on your behalf for a fee, automating what would otherwise be a lengthy manual process.