In this digital era, a lot of our personal data is available online, often without our consent. Public record websites aggregate data from various sources and publish it openly online for anyone to access. This public data exposure can raise privacy concerns and increase risks like identity theft or fraud.
Fortunately, many public record sites allow opting out of inclusion or removing your personal details if preferred. Here are some steps you can take to help minimize your digital footprint and reclaim control of your information.
Understand What Public Records Are
Public records encompass information created or received by government agencies relating to official business. Various public records you’ll commonly find online include:
Voter registration details
Marriage/divorce certificates
Birth certificates
Legal court case documents
Property ownership and deeds
Business licenses
Other government documents containing personal data
This information is generally available for public inspection in some form under freedom of information regulations. Online public record look-up services compile details sourced from numerous government agency databases and records.
Locate Where Your Personal Data is Published
Public records look-up sites like PublicRecordFinder.com, Truthfinder.com, Instant Checkmate, and more publish personal data like full names, addresses, phone numbers, legal documents, and other information they can aggregate.
Google yourself to locate pages showing your details. Check the opt-out policies published on each site hosting your data to understand removal processes. For sites linking to or citing public record sites as sources, you may need to instead opt-out on the root public record website itself first.
Formally Request Data Removal
Reputable public record search services provide opt-out instructions indicating how to submit data deletion requests. Reasons to request data removal range from security risks, privacy concerns, outdated information you want corrected, or simply not wanting details publicly searchable.
To opt-out, look for and complete the site’s formal data removal request form or process. Specify exactly what details you want to be excluded or removed. Typically you need to verify ownership of your identity and details to proceed with a request. Providing copies of government ID, answering verification questions, or completing authorization forms may be necessary.
Allow Time for Processing
Once submitted, data removal requests undergo review, verification and processing which takes some time before changes are live. Most websites state they will comply within 30 days. However, timing can range from 2 days up to a couple of months.
Follow up if you don’t see updates after the specified period. Mistakes in requests happen so you may need to resubmit improved or corrected removal forms. Public records themselves also require separate changes which can add delays before consumer data services reflect those too.
Leverage Data Rights Under Regulations
You can reference government laws like GDPR, CCPA or state regulations to compel eligible websites to remove outdated, improper or unauthorized data exposure relating to you. Consult resources from non-profit consumer protection groups like Privacy Rights Clearinghouse if you need help understanding how regulations protect people’s right to delete information.
Search Engines May Still Show Outdated Listings
Even after public record sites update or remove your details, search engines may still display outdated listing preview summaries and links related to your name. To remove outdated public record listings from search engines like Google Search, complete additional data removal request forms with them directly.
Conclusion
Through vigilance and persistence, you can exercise more control over your personal information to limit public exposure from public record websites. Protecting your privacy and security helps minimize future risks like fraud.