California residents can now use one state-run platform to ask hundreds of registered data brokers to delete and stop selling their personal information. The California Privacy Protection Agency launched its first statewide “Delete Week” for October 12–16, 2026, to draw attention to the free Delete Request and Opt-out Platform, known as DROP.

The request is not an instant removal from every database. CalPrivacy says brokers began processing DROP requests on August 1, 2026, and a consumer may wait up to 90 days before the status shown in the platform changes.

What DROP actually does

DROP lets an eligible California resident submit one request that is distributed to more than 600 registered data brokers. Those companies collect and sell information that can include contact details, online activity, household information and other personal data.

The official platform can be opened through CalPrivacy’s DROP information page. California58 also maintains a directory of official California apps and digital tools so residents can distinguish government services from unofficial look-alikes.

Who can use it

The service is for California residents. The state asks the user to verify residency through the California Identity Gateway, then create a profile and submit the request. CalPrivacy says users may choose how much identifying information to provide, although brokers need enough information to locate a matching record.

A resident does not have to create a separate California Identity Gateway account. DROP also provides limited options for submitting a request on behalf of another resident, such as a child or an elderly family member, when the program’s requirements are met.

What residents should expect

  • Cost: DROP is free. A page asking for payment is not the official state service.
  • Processing: brokers must access the system at least once every 45 days; a visible status change may take up to 90 days.
  • Coverage: the request goes to registered data brokers participating under California’s Delete Act requirements. It is not a universal deletion of every record held by every company or government agency.
  • Possible effects: reduced data sharing may eventually mean fewer targeted advertisements, calls, texts or emails, but CalPrivacy says results vary.
  • Follow-up: keep the DROP ID and use the official status checker rather than submitting personal information through an email or an unsolicited link.

Why the state created Delete Week

Delete Week is scheduled to become an annual privacy-awareness initiative. During the inaugural week, the agency is publishing videos, practical tips and materials explaining how data brokers operate and how Californians can exercise their rights.

In its October 12 announcement, CalPrivacy reported that more than 560,000 Californians had registered for DROP since its January 1 launch. The agency said brokers had reported nearly 100 million profile deletions and that a typical user had deletion reported by more than 150 brokers. These are figures reported by the agency, not an independent audit of every broker’s database.

What to do now

  1. Start only from privacy.ca.gov/drop.
  2. Confirm California residency through the official verification process.
  3. Provide enough identifying information for brokers to find matching records.
  4. Save the DROP ID in a secure place.
  5. Return to the official status checker later; do not assume that submission means every record was immediately deleted.

California’s privacy rules continue to evolve. Readers tracking legislation and signed measures can also use the California58 California Laws & Bills Today page, while relying on the responsible state agency for official transactions and current requirements.

Official sources

Featured image: Franck / Unsplash. The photograph is a thematic illustration and does not depict the DROP website or a California government transaction.

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