I decided that March was a good time to start pursuing data removal. I opted to go the manual route. I am following PG’s own guide.
The first company that tried, find my info. I follow the prompts for it’s removal, which is I’m sent an email with a link. I confirm that and then get the final form. I fill that out and submit. I quickly get an email back saying partially this:
We have reviewed your submission and, based on the information provided, it appears that the person identified in your request lives in a state that does not have a comprehensive consumer privacy law that applies to our data. Because of this, we are not able to process the request at this time.
Now what do I do? Is there any point in pursuing the others on the list? Do I now look into the paid option? Would the paid option get the same response or are they more successful? Has anyone else experienced this?
Apparently I can “appeal” and I have to make some legal argument citing their privacy rights and laws which apparently don’t exist in my state.
In my non-legal opinion, they don’t have the right to MY data and I should be allowed to have it removed from their public records.
I don’t know if this would work but could you maybe get a mailing address based in California, set that as your address and then claim you are based in CA for the removal?
I like the sneaky idea, but sadly I’m not sure the logistics would work. I could probably get a PO Box at a UPS store, but I assume I would have to show ID to open one. Maybe I’m wrong, I’m just guessing. But your idea is one solution.
I to tend to respond with some sort of combination of “I am a victim of stalking and this information could be potentially harmful to myself or my family” and then try to remind them that the company is under no legal obligation to keep that data (verify if thats true).
I’d be so scared of this causing issues related to insurance, taxes, and other official things if I used fake address in California just to take advantage of online data privacy laws. Like what if California says I was a resident (despite never stepping foot in California) and then go after me for unpaid taxes? Or what if my insurance company says I’m committing insurance fraud by not disclosing my “other property” or lying about where I reside? And this doesn’t even cover companies potentially targeting me for lying about where I live, which could be construed as an intent to defraud.
If anyone knows more, please share. Perhaps I’m too paranoid. I’ve personally assumed there is a big difference between routing my traffic through a California VPN server and writing down an actual California address and saying that’s where I reside. I’ve used California addresses for account deletions, but only for low-risk anonymous/pseudonym accounts not connected to my real identity.
This is a great valid argument for not trying the PO Box idea. I wasn’t going to anyway.
I’ve done something similar with fake names and birthdays many times, like you said, on low-risk accounts. Usually forums, even before I became aware of how important it is to be concerned about privacy.
Has this technique been successful to you? I’d probably only use this in desperation if a company wasn’t honoring a request for deletion. Couldn’t you walk the story back to the truth and just say it’s for privacy reasons?
I’ve already taken care of everything listed in the second link, like joining the “Do Not Call” list and the other steps. My next goal was to tackle the data brokers, but my first try ran into a brick wall. I’m trying to avoid the paid options because, like PG suggests, I can stay organized and check my data manually on an ongoing basis.
The posts you shared really highlight how tough it can be to push back against big tech and data brokers while looking after our own privacy. My experience also shows that the current legislation in my state isn’t doing enough for its citizens. It feels like lawmakers are more focused on lobby money than on creating laws that protect people over companies.
Yes including for places that are notoriously hard to get to remove data such as homes.com
You could. In my experience I have found that if you dont provide any incentive, such as that keeping the data may cause someone actual harm, companies tend to drag their feet or decline your request.
Like what if California says I was a resident (despite never stepping foot in California) and then go after me for unpaid taxes?
I don’t believe this to be true. Own a personal mailbox in another state for years now, only communications have always been between me and the company. With this you can potentially* claim you are a nomad (constant traveling). The CMRA (if legit) will be paying property taxes and all that as they have the physical residence.
Exactly. Being a “resident” of a state is a legal status. You can’t just all of a suddent become one because you claim to be one.
With the same caveat as @Harisfromcyber mentioned I imagine there would be all sorts of legal consequences for trying to defraud government officials and private entities into masking your true residency. For example, a company like this could be used to attempt to get low tuition and easier entry into the UC school system. Most states, including CA, have lower bars of entry and cheaper costs for residents of their states to go to in-state schools.
