How to Remove Your Data from Clearview AIStep-by-Step Guide 2026
A facial-recognition company that scraped billions of online photos. This guide covers the exact steps to remove your personal information, what documents they may request, and what to do if the removal fails.
What is Clearview AI?
Clearview AI built a facial-recognition system by scraping billions of photos from social media and the public web, linking faces to identities and selling search access primarily to law enforcement. It has faced major regulatory fines and lawsuits worldwide over its biometric database.
Data Clearview AI collects about you
- •Facial images / biometric faceprints
- •Source URLs of your photos
- •Linked name and public profile data
- •Associated web pages
Why Your Data Appears on Clearview AI
Clearview scraped your photos from public web pages and social media without consent and indexed your face into a searchable biometric database.
Where Clearview AI gets your data
- →Voter registration records
- →Property tax and deed records
- →Court and other public records
- →USPS National Change of Address (NCOA)
- →Marketing and subscription lists
- →Purchases from other data brokers
Step-by-Step: How to Remove Your Data from Clearview AI
The opt-out process is free. Estimated time: 14–30 days for removal to take effect after completing these steps.
Confirm what Clearview AI holds on you
Search clearview.ai for your name (or the data point they index — a phone number, email or address). Note the URL of any listing and the exact identifiers shown, so your request is specific enough to action.
Write your removal email to legal@clearview.ai
Email legal@clearview.ai with the subject "Privacy / Do Not Sell — Personal Information Removal Request". State clearly: "Delete my face from Clearview AI's biometric database and opt me out." Reference your rights under the CCPA/CPRA and your state privacy law, and ask them to both delete and suppress future re-listing.
Include just enough to be matched — and no more
Provide your full name, the city/state and any listing URL so they can locate your record. Only add a phone or email if it is already the identifier they show. Do not volunteer extra data such as your SSN or a full ID.
Request written confirmation
Ask Clearview AI to reply in writing once your data is removed, and to confirm the date. Keep the email thread — it is your evidence if you later need to escalate to a regulator.
Follow up and verify
Clearview AI states removals take 14–30 days. If you have not had confirmation by the end of that window, reply on the same thread requesting a status update. Re-check clearview.ai once removal is confirmed.
How Long Does Clearview AI Removal Take?
What Documents Clearview AI May Request
No government ID required
- •A clear photo of your face (to locate your faceprints)
- •Email address for the request
⚠️ Safety note on ID uploads
Clearview's opt-out ironically asks for a photo to match your faceprints. This is required to find your biometric records, but provide only the photo and email their process requires, and submit through their official privacy-requests page.
What to Do If Clearview AI Removal Fails
If the standard opt-out process does not work, follow these escalation steps in order:
If your Clearview AI listing reappears within 30–60 days, simply re-submit the opt-out. Re-listing after a new public record is normal and does not mean your first request failed.
If the email goes unanswered, re-send to legal@clearview.ai and CC any "privacy" or "legal" alias on the site with the subject "Do Not Sell / Delete — Personal Information" and a clear statement of your request plus your listing URL.
If Clearview AI still does not comply within 45 days, file a complaint with your state Attorney General and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. California residents can additionally report non-compliance to the CPPA at cppa.ca.gov.
Alternative Options
🔧 Manual removal (free)
The opt-out above is free and works for Clearview AI specifically. The catch is that Clearview AI is only one of 500+ data brokers — to actually disappear you would repeat a similar process for each site, which is typically 20–40 hours of research and follow-up.
⚡ Automated removal (OfflistMe)
OfflistMe covers 500+ data brokers including Clearview AI for a single one-time payment. Instead of hunting down each broker's opt-out page, OfflistMe surfaces the correct opt-out link or privacy email and pre-generates a properly worded removal request for each one. You send it from your own inbox — the same legal outcome as doing it by hand, without the hours of research.
Generate the Clearview AI opt-out email →Frequently Asked Questions
Know the laws behind this request
Every deletion request you send to Clearview AI cites specific statutes. These explainers show what each law covers, what the broker must do, and how enforcement works.
Official registry entries for Clearview AI
Under state data-broker laws, Clearview AI must publicly register and disclose opt-out contact info. These are the official filings.
Don't stop at Clearview AI
Your data is on $500+ brokers, not just Clearview AI. OfflistMe covers all of them with a single one-time payment, no subscription, no account needed.