AI News
30 Sep 2025
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California privacy opt-out guide: How to reclaim data
California privacy opt-out guide helps you stop the sale of your data and regain control easily today.
Want fewer trackers and targeted ads? Use this California privacy opt-out guide to switch off data sales, stop cross-site sharing, and limit sensitive info with a few clicks. Follow the steps for browsers, phones, big platforms, and data brokers, then schedule a quick monthly check to keep control.
California gives you strong data rights. You can tell companies not to sell or share your data for ads. You can ask them to delete or correct your data. You can limit how they use your sensitive personal information. Many sites hide these choices in footers, pop-ups, and account menus. This article shows you exactly where to click and what to send.
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), “sell” and “share” do not only mean money. If a site shares your data with an ad partner in exchange for services, that may be a sale or share. So even “free” tools and apps must offer you an opt-out. California also requires sites to honor a browser signal called Global Privacy Control (GPC). When on, GPC tells sites to stop selling or sharing your data without you clicking every banner.
If you are a parent, the rules are even stronger for kids. Companies need opt-in consent to sell or share data of teens ages 13–16. For children under 13, they need a parent’s consent. You will see extra warnings or blocks when a platform thinks a user is a minor.
What your rights let you do
Core rights you can use today
What counts as a “sale” or “share”
Which businesses must comply
You do not need to prove a purchase history to use your rights. If a company has your data and meets the law’s scope, it must respond.
California privacy opt-out guide: Step-by-step actions
Quick 10-minute setup on your devices
These steps cut tracking across many apps and sites. They also support your other opt-outs.
Stop cross-site ad tracking on major platforms
Most platforms also place a “Your Privacy Choices” or “Do Not Sell or Share” link in the site footer. Click it and switch all toggles off. If you see “Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information,” click that and limit it too.
Tell companies directly when no clear link exists
If a site hides its opt-out, send a request. Look for “Privacy,” “Do Not Sell or Share,” or “Your Privacy Choices” in the footer. If you cannot find it, email the privacy address in the company’s policy.
Use this simple script:
“Hello, I am a California resident. I am exercising my right to opt out of the sale and sharing of my personal information and to limit the use of my sensitive personal information for advertising. Please confirm this request and remove my data from data partners and ad networks. I prefer not to create an account to make this request. Thank you.”
If the company needs to verify your identity, they may ask you to click a link sent to your email. Avoid sending a photo ID unless it is required and you can redact non-essential fields.
Control sensitive personal information
What is sensitive personal information (SPI)
How to limit SPI use
Companies may still use SPI for basic services, fraud prevention, or security, but they should not use it for targeted ads if you limit it.
Manage cookies and trackers
Win the cookie banner
Browser defenses
These steps reduce profiling and support your opt-out choices across sites.
Data brokers and people-search sites
Why they matter
Data brokers collect and sell large sets of personal data. People-search sites publish your name, addresses, phone numbers, relatives, and more. This fuels spam, robocalls, and targeted ads. It can also pose safety risks.
How to opt out
California is building a central deletion system under the Delete Act. Data brokers will have to honor one request sent through that system by 2026. Until then, keep a list of sites you have cleared and revisit them each quarter.
Prove your identity safely
What companies can ask
If a company asks for a driver’s license, redact photo, number, and birth date if not needed. Provide only what the company must use to verify your request. Ask for a secure upload link rather than email attachments when possible.
Keep your settings fresh
A simple maintenance plan
Make this a short routine. It takes less time than you think, and it keeps you in control.
For parents and teens
Use stronger protections
Teach kids to click “Reject All” on cookie banners and to look for “Your Privacy Choices.” These simple habits stick.
Common mistakes to avoid
How this guide works together
Think of your privacy as layers. Your browser and phone settings cut most tracking. Your platform settings reduce ads built on your activity. Site-level links like “Do Not Sell or Share” and “Limit SPI” finish the job. Data broker opt-outs clean up the leftover copies. This California privacy opt-out guide shows you each layer in order, so you spend less time and get better results.
You now have the tools to take back control. Set GPC, block third-party cookies, and shut off tracking on your phone. Use privacy links in footers. Send direct requests when links are missing. Clear data brokers on a schedule. Keep this California privacy opt-out guide handy and repeat the quick steps a few times a year. Your data is valuable. With steady habits, you can reclaim it and keep it that way.
(Source: https://triblive.com/local/regional/heres-how-ai-is-reshaping-education-from-teachers-to-students/)
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FAQ
A: The California privacy opt-out guide shows how to switch off data sales, stop cross-site sharing, and limit sensitive information with a few clicks across browsers, phones, major platforms, and data brokers. It also recommends scheduling quick monthly checks to keep control of your privacy settings and trackers.
Q: What rights do Californians have under the CCPA and CPRA?
A: Under the CCPA and CPRA you can opt out of the sale or sharing of personal data, limit the use of sensitive personal information, access and obtain a copy of your data, delete or correct data, and learn what categories of data a company collects and why. You can also use a browser signal (GPC) to express your opt-out and should not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
Q: How do I enable Global Privacy Control (GPC) and what does it do?
A: Turn on GPC by using a browser that sends it by default like Brave or DuckDuckGo or by adding a GPC extension to Chrome or Firefox. When enabled, GPC tells sites to stop selling or sharing your data and California requires sites to honor that signal.
Q: How can I stop cross-site ad tracking and adjust ad personalization on major platforms?
A: On Google, use Ad Center to turn off ad personalization and pause Web & App Activity and YouTube History or set auto-delete; in My Ad Center turn off partner-based personalization. On Meta, set “Data about your activity from partners” to Not Allowed and clear Off‑Meta Activity; on Amazon choose “Do Not Personalize Ads”; and on X, TikTok, Snapchat, and Pinterest turn off the platform-specific ad personalization toggles in each app’s privacy or ad settings.
Q: What should I do if a website hides its opt-out link or provides no clear privacy choice?
A: Look for “Privacy,” “Do Not Sell or Share,” or “Your Privacy Choices” in the footer or check the company’s privacy policy for a contact email and send the provided script stating you are a California resident exercising opt-out and SPI limits. The company may ask you to verify control of an email or phone and you should avoid sending a photo ID unless it is required and you can redact non-essential fields.
Q: What counts as sensitive personal information and how can I limit its use?
A: Sensitive personal information includes precise geolocation, race or ethnicity, religious beliefs, union membership, genetic and biometric data, health data, sexual orientation, and financial account or ID numbers. To limit SPI use, click a site’s “Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information” link, turn off SPI-based personalization in app privacy or ad settings, or send a direct request to the company to limit SPI disclosure.
Q: How do I remove my information from data brokers and people-search sites?
A: Visit each broker’s “Do Not Sell or Share” or “Opt Out” page, enter the profile URL or your name and city, and verify by email as required, repeating the process for common sites like Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, PeopleFinders, and Radaris. Keep a running list of cleared sites and note that California is building a central deletion system that will accept a single request to delete broker data by 2026.
Q: What maintenance schedule should I follow to keep privacy settings effective?
A: Monthly, clear cookies for sites you visit often and confirm GPC is still enabled; quarterly, review ad settings on Google, Meta, Amazon, and your most-used apps; twice a year, re-run people-search opt-outs, reset or delete Android ad IDs, and check iOS tracking and Apple Advertising toggles. Keep this California privacy opt-out guide handy and repeat the quick checks when you install new apps, denying tracking and location access unless needed.
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