California's Delete Request for Online Privacy (DROP) law — passed in 2023, taking effect August 2026 — gives California residents the right to submit a single request to delete their personal information from every registered data broker at once.
The DELETE Act (officially SB 362, also referred to as the DROP law for Delete Request for Online Privacy) was signed by Governor Newsom in October 2023. It represents the most significant expansion of California's data privacy rights since the CCPA.
Before this law, California residents had to contact each data broker individually to request their data be removed — a time-consuming process across hundreds of companies. The DROP law changes that entirely: starting in August 2026, you'll be able to submit a single deletion request through the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), and that agency will relay it to all registered data brokers in the state.
The DROP law applies to California residents. You must be a current resident of California to use the state's deletion portal.
Data brokers covered are those that: collect and sell the personal information of California residents, have annual gross revenues exceeding $25 million, or buy and sell personal data for commercial purposes at significant volume.
Under the DROP law, data brokers are required to:
The DROP law only applies to California residents. If you live elsewhere in the US, you don't have access to this centralized deletion mechanism — yet.
Several other states are moving in this direction. Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Texas have passed comprehensive privacy laws with opt-out rights, though none yet include a centralized broker deletion portal like California's. Federal legislation has been proposed but has not yet passed.
In the meantime, the best nationwide alternatives are:
The California DROP law (SB 362) takes effect August 2026. The California Privacy Protection Agency is required to have the centralized deletion request portal operational by August 1, 2026. The portal is not live yet — until then, California residents must use manual opt-outs or paid removal services.
No. The DROP law only applies to California residents. However, other states including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Texas have passed comprehensive privacy laws with opt-out rights. Similar federal legislation has been proposed but has not yet passed. Non-California residents can use services like Incogni or Optery for automated removal.
Starting August 2026, visit the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) portal, verify your identity as a California resident, and submit your deletion request. The CPPA will relay your request to all registered data brokers, who must comply within 31 days. Non-compliant brokers face CPPA enforcement and fines.
Services like Incogni handle 180+ data brokers automatically — no waiting for government portals. About $6.49/month.
See the Best Removal Services for 2026 →Honest comparison — no sponsored rankings.