Stop Data Collection & Tracking (2026)

How data collection works, the ecosystem

Data collection is a multi-layer ecosystem. At the top are primary data collectors: platforms you directly interact with (Google, Meta, Amazon, your bank, your carrier). These companies collect first-party data, what you tell them directly. They then sell or license this data to secondary collectors: data aggregators like Acxiom, Experian Marketing Services, Oracle Data Cloud, and LiveRamp that build unified consumer profiles. These profiles flow downstream to tertiary consumers: advertisers, direct mailers, people-search sites, insurance underwriters, and employers. Stopping data collection means addressing all three layers.

Layer 1: Primary data collectors, what you can do

1. Google: Go to myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy. Turn off Web & App Activity, Location History, and YouTube History. Opt out of ad personalization. These changes apply to logged-in browsing.
2. Meta (Facebook/Instagram): In Meta's current Accounts Center or settings, use Activity off Meta technologies to review or clear off-platform activity. Use the current Activity information from ad partners or other Ad Preferences controls for ad-related choices. Follow the labels shown in the live account.
3. Apple: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, then review app permissions or turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track." Also review Location Services separately, and go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising to turn Personalized Ads on or off.
4. Your carrier: Open each carrier's current privacy-choice route and select only the relevant controls. AT&T uses PrivacyChoices, Verizon uses Your Privacy Choices, and T-Mobile uses its Privacy Dashboard. Some controls are available to visitors without a customer login, and separate advertising, analytics, marketing, or fraud-sharing choices may exist.

Layer 2: Data aggregators, opt out of the biggest ones

Acxiom requires a valid email address so you can respond to its confirmation email. LiveRamp separates comprehensive consumer requests from browser- and device-specific opt-outs; its privacy-choice page links those routes. For Oracle and Epsilon, start with the current privacy-choice or consumer-information page and select the request or preference that applies.

Layer 3: People-search sites, batch opt-out

The third layer is the 1,034 people-search and background-check workflows recorded in the catalog. These can require individual provider-specific requests; there is no universal master opt-out. OfflistMe prepares request drafts for review, and you send them directly from your own inbox. This reduces research and writing overhead while keeping the submission under your control.

Optional general privacy measures

These are optional general privacy measures, not provider-specific opt-outs and not a universal way to stop data collection.

• Browser privacy signals: Global Privacy Control (GPC) is recognized by some providers in applicable contexts. It is not universal and does not replace provider-specific requests.
• Browser and network tools: Browser privacy settings, tracker blocking, DNS controls, and a VPN are optional general measures. They are not provider opt-outs and do not replace a provider-specific request.
• Email: Email-client tracking-pixel controls are also optional general measures, not provider opt-outs.