Every day, companies you've never heard of are collecting, analyzing, and selling detailed profiles about you. These data brokers operate in the shadows of the internet, building massive databases that contain everything from your home address to your shopping habits.

The $200 Billion Data Broker Industry

Data brokerage has grown into a massive industry worth over $200 billion annually. Companies like Acxiom, Epsilon, and CoreLogic have detailed profiles on nearly every American adult, containing thousands of data points per person.

What Information Do They Collect?

• •Personal Details: Name, age, gender, addresses (current and previous)
• •Financial Information: Income estimates, property ownership, credit scores
• •Family & Relationships: Marital status, children, relatives
• •Online Behavior: Shopping habits, website visits, social media activity
• •Health & Lifestyle: Medical conditions, fitness habits, dietary preferences

How Data Brokers Get Your Information

Data brokers use sophisticated methods to gather information from countless sources:

1. Public Records

Government databases containing voter registrations, property records, court documents, and professional licenses are often publicly accessible. Data brokers systematically scrape these records.

How to Remove Your Information

Removing your data from broker sites is possible but time-consuming. Here's the process:

• •Identify major data brokers like Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified
• •Submit opt-out requests following each site's removal process
• •Monitor for re-listing as data often reappears within months
• •Consider automated services for continuous protection