What DROP does
DROP is California's free route for eligible residents to request deletion from registered data brokers. It includes ongoing matching, so it can address newly matched information as well as the initial request. It is separate from closing a Google, Facebook or shopping account you use directly.
Start on California's official DROP page. You do not need to pay SEED to submit the government's request. A paid service may offer different listing checks or support; review that scope separately before buying it.
Before you start
Confirm that you meet the state's residency requirements. Gather the identifiers you want brokers to match. The official flow asks for basic identifying information and offers additional identifiers; some advertising, vehicle and connected-TV identifiers are optional.
Give information only through the official government process. Choose the extra fields deliberately rather than assuming you must provide every possible identifier. More information can help matching, but it also changes the data you disclose.
On a phone
- Open the official DROP service.
- Complete the residency-verification process.
- Review the profile information you choose to submit.
- Read the request summary, then submit.
- Save the private DROP ID securely so you can check the outcome later.
The tracking ID can give access to your request information. Do not paste it into a public message, an agent prompt or a SEED support screenshot.
On a computer
Use the same official service. Check the government domain before entering identity details. A larger screen may make the profile and optional fields easier to review.
If eligibility verification fails, follow the on-screen review route rather than changing accurate details to force a match. The DROP help page explains how to request review or recover access to an existing request.
What happens next
Brokers began processing DROP requests in August 2026. Initial status reporting can take up to 90 days; subsequent matching/deletion checks occur at least every 45 days. Use the official status page and your private ID to follow the results.
Read each response separately:
- Deleted: the broker reports deletion of matching non-exempt data.
- Exempted: the broker reports a permitted basis for retaining the data.
- Opted-out: the reported result concerns sale/sharing restrictions, not complete erasure.
- Record not found: the broker found no match; that can also reflect insufficient matching information.
- Pending: a result has not yet been reported.
Do not combine these into a single count of “all data deleted.” Public listings and other direct relationships may need separate action.
If a result is missing or unclear
Check the identifiers in your profile and read the official help before resubmitting. Profile updates are subject to the service's timing rules. If you choose to add information, review the change and its purpose first.
For a visible people-search listing that remains, use the people-search guide to review its specific opt-out route. Preserve the distinction between a broker's DROP response and your observation of a page.
Keep a record
You can note that you submitted a DROP request, its date and a non-sensitive summary of results. Keep the private ID in a secure place outside general case notes. Never upload a screenshot containing that ID just to prove you completed the government flow.
If you are outside California, use the company-specific guide or your applicable privacy-rights route. A California address copied from someone else does not make you eligible.