How to Remove Your Personal Data from the Internet (2025 Full Guide)
Short Answer: To remove your personal data from the Internet in 2025, start by deleting or anonymizing social media content, requesting removal of personal information from Google, opting out of people-search sites and data brokers, and closing old accounts that still expose your details. This guide walks you through each step with official tools, verified links and practical examples.
Why Removing Your Personal Data Matters in 2025
Search engines, social networks, data brokers and public databases all contribute to your digital footprint. Over time, this may expose your home address, phone number, work history, photos and even sensitive documents. This information can be used for identity theft, harassment, doxxing or simple unwanted attention.
The good news: in 2025 there are more tools and legal rights than ever to help you take back control. The less good news: you must act on several fronts at the same time. This guide is designed as a practical roadmap.
- Section 1 – Remove your data from Google and other search engines
- Section 2 – Delete or anonymize your social media presence
- Section 3 – Remove your details from people-search sites
- Section 4 – Opt out from data brokers
- Section 5 – Request removal from individual websites
- Section 6 – Close old accounts and check for leaked data
- Section 7 – Protect your privacy going forward
- Section 8 – Extended FAQ with real-world Q&A
Step 1 – Remove Your Data from Google Search
Google does not host most of your data; it indexes information found on other websites. However, Google provides official tools to reduce the visibility of your personal information in search results.
1.1 Use Google’s Personal Information Removal Tool
With this tool you can request the removal of:
- Home addresses and phone numbers
- Photos showing your face in a harmful context
- Identity documents (ID cards, passports, tax numbers)
- Bank details and other highly sensitive information
- Doxxing content, where your details are shared with intent to harm
Official Google form:
https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/9685456
1.2 Request Removal of Outdated or Cached Results
If a website has already updated or deleted the content but Google still shows the old version, use the “outdated content” tool:
https://search.google.com/search-console/remove-outdated-content
1.3 Remove Photos from Google Images
For images that violate Google policies, you can submit a dedicated request:
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/4628134
Step 2 – Delete or Anonymize Your Social Media Accounts
Social networks often contain the most sensitive information about you: photos, friendships, locations, work history and opinions. A serious cleanup starts here.
2.1 Instagram (Meta)
You can delete your Instagram account using Meta’s Accounts Center:
https://accountscenter.instagram.com/accounts/delete/
2.2 Facebook
To permanently delete your Facebook account (not just deactivate it):
https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account
2.3 TikTok
TikTok allows deactivation or permanent deletion from the app, and explains the process here:
2.4 X (Twitter)
For X (formerly Twitter), follow the official guide to deactivate and permanently delete the account:
https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-deactivate-twitter-account
2.5 LinkedIn
LinkedIn stores career history and professional contacts. To close your account:
https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/account-management/close-account
2.6 Reddit
To deactivate a Reddit account:
https://www.reddit.com/prefs/deactivate/
Step 3 – Remove Personal Data from People-Search Websites
People-search websites aggregate public records, directories and social signals to build profiles that often include your name, address, age, relatives and previous addresses. Many allow opt-out requests.
3.1 Opt-out Links for Major People-Search Sites
- Whitepages: https://www.whitepages.com/suppression_requests
- Spokeo: https://www.spokeo.com/optout
- BeenVerified: https://www.beenverified.com/app/optout
- Intelius: https://www.intelius.com/opt-out
- TruthFinder: https://www.truthfinder.com/opt-out/
- FastPeopleSearch: https://www.fastpeoplesearch.com/removal
- PeopleFinder: https://www.peoplefinder.com/opt-out
In Europe, similar sites must respect the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can request access and deletion of your data and, if necessary, complain to your national data protection authority:
https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en
Step 4 – Opt Out from Data Brokers
Data brokers collect information from purchases, loyalty cards, online trackers and public records. They build marketing profiles that can be shared widely. Opting out reduces targeted advertising and data sharing.
4.1 Main Data Broker Opt-Out Pages
- Acxiom: https://isapps.acxiom.com/optout/optout.aspx
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/consumer-and-data-access
- Epsilon: https://legal.epsilon.com/dsr-form/
- Oracle Advertising: https://datacloudoptout.oracle.com/
- Clearbit: https://clearbit.com/privacy
Step 5 – Request Removal from Individual Websites
If a particular website has published your personal details (for example, a forum post showing your address, a blog with your phone number or a news site with sensitive information), you must address it directly.
5.1 Find the Website Owner
- Look for a “Contact”, “Impressum” or “Privacy” page.
- If there is no clear contact, use a WHOIS lookup service such as https://lookup.icann.org to find the domain’s registrant or host.
5.2 Send a Clear Removal Request
Explain what information you want removed, where it appears (URL + screenshot) and why it violates your privacy or local laws. If you live in the EU, explicitly mention your rights under GDPR and Article 17 (right to erasure).
5.3 If the Website Refuses
- For illegal or harmful content, submit a report to Google through its legal help form: https://support.google.com/legal
- In serious cases (harassment, threats, non-consensual explicit content), consider speaking to a lawyer or local authority.
Step 6 – Close Old Accounts and Check for Leaked Data
Many data leaks come from old accounts created years ago and then forgotten. Closing them and changing passwords drastically lowers your risk.
6.1 Check If Your Data Has Been Leaked
- Have I Been Pwned: https://haveibeenpwned.com – enter your email addresses to see known breaches.
- Firefox Monitor: https://monitor.mozilla.org
6.2 Delete or Secure Old Accounts
Once you know which services were compromised, log in and either:
- Delete the account completely, or
- Change password + enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
6.3 Use Directories of Deletion Links
To find the correct deletion page for many online services, you can use:
https://backgroundchecks.org/justdeleteme/
Step 7 – Protect Your Privacy Going Forward
Cleaning your existing data is only half of the job. The other half is avoiding the same problem in a few years.
- Use a password manager and unique passwords for each service.
- Enable 2FA on email, banking, cloud storage and social media.
- Limit the personal details you share publicly (especially addresses, phone numbers and daily routines).
- Use email aliases and virtual phone numbers for sign-ups when possible.
- Review app permissions regularly and disable unnecessary access to location, contacts and microphone.
Extended FAQ: Real Questions About Removing Personal Data
Can I completely erase myself from the internet?
No. It is almost impossible to remove every trace of your existence online, especially from archives, backups and public records. However, you can significantly reduce the amount of easily accessible personal information and make it harder for strangers to learn details about your life.
How long does it take to clean up my online presence?
Expect several weeks to a few months. Google removal requests may take days or weeks, some websites respond quickly, others never reply. It is a gradual process rather than a one-time action.
Do I need to pay a company to do this for me?
Many services offer paid “reputation management”, but most of the steps in this guide can be done for free using official tools. Paying may save time, but always check reviews and contracts carefully.
What should I do if someone is actively doxxing or harassing me?
Document everything (screenshots, URLs, usernames) and report the behaviour both to the platform and, if there are threats or explicit intent to harm, to local law enforcement. In serious situations, legal assistance is strongly recommended.
Will deleting my social media accounts break my logins for other apps?
If you used “Sign in with Facebook”, “Sign in with Google” or similar, deleting those accounts may break access to other services linked to them. Before deleting, change the login method where possible.
What about messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram?
Deleting an account removes your profile from the service, but copies of conversations and media may still exist on other people’s devices or backups. For highly sensitive content, ask recipients to delete it and review your own cloud backups.
How often should I review my digital footprint?
A quick check e
