Californians can now opt out of the sale of their personal data by brokers, following the launch of a tool from the California Privacy Protection Agency.
More than 155,000 users have used the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) tool that became available to Californians on Jan. 1, the state announced on Jan. 20.
DROP enables users to submit a single request to more than 500 data brokers, which are required to start processing the requests by Aug. 1, 2026.
DROP’s development was mandated under the 2023 Delete Act, a first-of-its-kind privacy law that expanded data broker registration requirements and increased transparency around the types of personal information they collect and share.
Prior to the creation of DROP, Californians had to make individual deletion requests to each broker. The new tool aims to prevent data brokers from sharing and selling residents’ information.
“A little over two years ago, I signed a nation-leading law to give Californians more control over their data, and the ability to tell data brokers that their information is not for sale. Your data should belong to you, and DROP will make that happen in one simple step,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
The tool was developed by the California Department of Technology and the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) and is the first tool of its kind in the world, according to state officials.
“DROP is a game changer for consumer privacy,” Tom Kemp, executive director of CalPrivacy, said in a statement. “It gives people a straightforward way to take control of their personal information.”