Online Data Vendors:
How Consumers Can Opt Out of
Directory Assistance and Non-public Information

There are many websites that sell or provide for free, personal information about individuals. This information is gathered from many sources including white pages listings (directory assistance), publicly-available sources and public records.

• Data vendors that offer an opt out policy
• Data vendors that do not offer an opt out policy

Directory Listings: To prevent the cross-referencing of your address with your phone number, you can choose to not have your information available in the phone book or through directory assistance. If your number is "unlisted," your name, address and phone number will not be printed in the phone book, but the information is available through both directory assistance and reverse directory assistance. If your number is "unpublished," your information will not be printed in the phone book and is not available through directory assistance or reverse directory assistance. Or you can list your name and phone number, but not your address. Telephone companies usually charge a monthly fee to be unlisted or unpublished.

Public Records: Please note that public records are often that--public. Web sites that provided personal information gathered from various sources are not required to offer a way to have that information removed or suppressed, though many will as a courtesy. The table below notes many of the more common online providers of public and non-public information that do offer an opt out mechanism. The opt out notes below usually only apply to non-public information. Not all web sites that sell personal information allow individuals to have their information removed or suppressed. Check the privacy policy of the site to see if they offer an opt-out mechanism. If one is provided, ask the online data broker for clarification on whether opting out also applies to public records information they may maintain.

Some online data vendors will request information from you (such as your Social Security number or date of birth) to process your opt-out request.  You will need to decide whether you want to provide that information as the price of exercising your opt-out privilege.  You may not want to provide the data vendor with any information that they do not already have.

Keep in mind that public records can contain errors, e.g. your name was confused with someone else or the current status of your case is not included. An Internet data broker will not correct such errors. They will instruct you to correct errors with the court or other source of the record.

Last, opting out may prove to be a fruitless venture since often online vendors will simply repopulate the data when they obtain their next download of information from the source. According to People Data, their information is refreshed every three to four months. Your only option would be to check back and go through the opt-out process again if you find your information has been reposted.

To learn more about public and government records, read our Fact Sheet 11: From Cradle to Grave: Government Records and Your Privacy at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs11-pub.htm

This table is provided as information only. Posting of these sites and their opt out information should not be construed as an endorsement. We strongly suggest that you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you do not want public, publicly-available and non-public information available on the Internet. To do so, go to the FTC's home page at www.ftc.gov and click the link in the upper navigation bar for File a Complaint.

If your own county agencies are considering posting public records online, let your county supervisors know of your concerns. Attend public meetings when this topic is being discussed and weigh in, both in written and in oral testimony. Organize with others who share your concerns. Organizations that assist victims of domestic violence and stalking, for example, are actively monitoring these proposals and are testifying at public hearings. To find out more, go to the web site of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, www.nnedv.org. The site offers links to domestic violence and stalking victims’ assistance groups around the country.

Many state court organizations have formed task forces to discuss the privacy and access issues surrounding the posting of court records online. They are developing court rules to guide them. Find out if or how you can participate in these task forces. Perhaps they are holding hearings to which you can submit written testimony and/or speak. For more information about the topic of privacy and online court records, visit the web site www.courtaccess.org, a project of the National Center for State Courts.

If you are concerned about the availability of public records or are unable to opt out as noted below, feel free to contact us, www.privacyrights.org/about_us.htm#contact. We also encourage those who find opt out information for a web site not noted below or information that needs to be updated, to notify us using this same form with relevant links and information.

• Data vendors that offer an opt out policy
• Data vendors that do not offer an opt out policy

We acknowledge the work of Patricia, Consumer Advocate, in researching, compiling, and updating this listing.

Copyright © 2004-2006. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse/UCAN. This copyrighted document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit, educational purposes only. For distribution, see our copyright and reprint guidelines. The text of this document may not be altered without express authorization of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. This document should be used as an information source and not as legal advice. PRC documents contain information about federal laws as well as some California-specific information. Laws in other states may vary. Overall, our information is applicable to consumers nationwide.