DataRemoval.ca vs Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP)

DataRemoval.ca searches data broker and people-search sites for a person’s name, address, phone number, and email, then sends opt-out requests and checks for re-listings. Requests can be submitted by email, web form, postal mail, and API where available. The service says it performs monthly re-scans and automatically repeats removals when information reappears. A free exposure scan is offered without an account or payment card.

The listed plans range from Free at free, with 1 user, 3 removals, and 1 report/month, to paid yearly subscriptions and one-time options. Basic costs $3.74 a year; Premium costs $7.49 a year; and Incognito costs $23.99 a year. One-Time Deep Clean costs $49, paid once, and Lifetime Protection costs $349.99, paid once. The service says it covers more than 1,700 sites, though listed broker coverage is 150 sites. It says stored data is encrypted with AES-256 and processed in Canada. DataRemoval.ca was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) is a free web service from the California Privacy Protection Agency, also called CalPrivacy. It lets eligible California residents ask data brokers to delete their personal information and stop selling or sharing it. One request can reach over 600 registered data brokers. Users begin with a name, date of birth, and ZIP code, then may add more information. Mobile advertising IDs, connected TV IDs, and vehicle identification numbers are optional. After initial processing, brokers must re-check for new matching information and delete it at least every 45 days. Brokers have up to 90 days to report how they handled a request, and users can update their profile once every 45 days. DROP says submitted information is used only to process requests and stored in secure, unreadable hashed form. Residency verification runs through the California Identity Gateway, and DROP says it does not retain that verification information. The service does not require deletion of information given directly to a business, publicly available information, or legally exempt information.