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How to Opt Out of PrivateEye – And Why You Should Do It

Data brokers like PrivateEye gather and sell a wide range of personal data, including your name, address, phone number, birth date, educational and employment background, property records, financial information, and even police records. 

Although their actions are legal, it doesn’t mean you have to tolerate them. In this guide, we’ll walk you through opting out of PrivateEye so you can take back control.

What is PrivateEye?

PrivateEye, a subsidiary of PeopleFinders, is a data broker that provides people search, address lookup, and reverse phone lookup services.

PrivateEye offers details like your age, current and past locations, partially redacted email addresses and phone numbers, and information about relatives and associates. If you click on "view details," it redirects you to PeopleFinders.

Why should I opt out of PrivateEye?

Understanding how services like PrivateEye utilize your data is crucial. These "people-search” sites, including PrivateEye, profit by selling your data to anyone interested.

There are several compelling reasons for opting out of PrivateEye, including:

  1. Eliminating incorrect or potentially harmful data that might adversely affect your job prospects, employment status, or credit.
  2. Individuals with harmful intentions, such as stalkers or harassers, can exploit the information provided by PrivateEye. PrivateEye's detailed maps of residence locations and contact information for neighbors can enable unwanted tracking.

If you reside in the US, we strongly advise opting out of PrivateEye and similar people-search sites to regain control over your personal information and protect yourself from identity theft and privacy breaches.

How to opt out of PrivateEye

To opt out of PrivateEye, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the PrivateEye FAQ Help page at https://www.privateeye.com/static/view/optout/.
  2. Fill in and submit the opt-out form.
  3. Complete the CAPTCHA.
  4. Click the opt-out button.

Your data may not vanish from PrivateEye's database right away. Check their website or do occasional searches to ensure it's gone.

How to remove yourself from other people-search sites

PrivateEye is just one of many sites that gather and sell your information. Some others include:

  • PeopleFinders
  • Pipl
  • Truthfinder
  • USSearch
  • Instant Checkmate
  • ZabaSearch
  • BeenVerified
  • Spokeo

Managing multiple sites can be a time-consuming task. To streamline the process of removing your data from sites like PrivateEye, you should explore dedicated data removal services.

These services usually involve a monthly subscription fee and ensure the permanent removal of your information from numerous people-search sites and major data brokers.

The best service to opt out of people-search sites

Now, let’s consider our top recommendation in more detail.

1. Incogni
Editor's Choice | October 2024

Incogni takes on the challenging task of contacting data brokers to erase your data and manages the process on your behalf. It's an easy-to-use and budget-friendly service.

  • Pricing

    • 1 month: $12.99/mth
    • 12 months: $6.49/mth
      50% OFF
  • Pros

    • Affordable price
    • No long-term contract
    • Easy-to-use service
    • Owned by Surfshark, a trustworthy company
    • Works with data brokers in the US, Canada, EU, and UK
  • Cons

    • Not available in all countries

Incogni, a division of Surfshark VPN, provides an affordable service with transparent tracking. Their online dashboard lets you monitor the number of removal requests initiated, completed, and in progress.


Incogni uses an algorithm to pinpoint data brokers with your information. They reach out to various broker types, including those dealing with people search, risk assessment, financial, hiring, marketing, and health data.


What distinguishes Incogni is its availability in several countries, including the UK, EU, Switzerland, and Canada. The legal timeframes for data removal differ by location, like the GDPR's 30-day requirement in the EU and CCPA's 45-day guideline in California.


Pricing options comprise a $5.79 per month rate for annual subscriptions and a slightly higher $11.49 monthly for month-to-month plans. Once registered, you simply furnish Incogni with the data to remove, grant the necessary permissions, and await their action.

How to opt out of PrivateEye – FAQs

Written by: Conor Walsh

Conor is a tech writer with professional paranoia. He's passionate about privacy, and when not writing about it, can be found trying to get far away from his phone and any other technology, enjoying some live music, outdoorsy stuff, or a good (physical) book.

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