Data is increasingly collected, shared, and stored across public and private systems. One area where Californians now have a clear, centralized tool is consumer data held by data brokers.
What Is the DELETE Act: California’s DELETE Act, which took effect January 1, 2026, gives residents the right to request that registered data brokers delete personal information they have collected, including data gathered without a direct relationship or the individual’s knowledge or consent.
Data brokers are companies that gather personal information from many sources, combine it into detailed profiles, and sell or share that data with third parties, typically without direct interaction with the individual.
The DELETE Act is implemented through California’s Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP), a centralized system that allows residents to submit a single deletion request. That request is sent to all data brokers registered in California, including those that may collect or acquire personal data in the future.
This law provides one of the strongest tools currently available for reducing the circulation of personal data across the data broker ecosystem.
Timing and Enforcement: You can submit a DELETE request now. Enforcement begins August 1, 2026. After that date, data brokers are required to process deletion requests within the timelines set by law. You can check the status of your request through the DROP platform and update your information if needed. New data may take additional time to be processed. Submitting your request before August 1 helps ensure it is already on file when enforcement begins.
What the DELETE Act Does Not Cover: The DELETE Act does not apply to medical records held by healthcare providers, hospitals, or Health Information Exchanges. Those records are governed by separate health privacy laws and require different steps. See AVFCA’s post here: https://avoiceforchoiceadvocacy.org/health-information-exchanges-opt-out/
Take Action: To request deletion of your data held by registered data brokers, visit: https://consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov/