California Launches DROP Centralized Data Deletion Tool for Residents
Published
Key Takeaways
- Centralized Opt-Out: The new DROP allows submitting a single request to delete personal data held by over 500 registered data brokers.
- Implementation Timeline: Requests can be collected immediately, but data brokers will begin processing these requests starting in August 2026.
- Enforcement Measures: Data brokers failing to comply with registration or deletion mandates face penalties of $200 per day.
California has officially launched the Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform (DROP), a centralized mechanism designed to enhance data privacy rights for state residents. Authorized under the Delete Act of 2023, this new infrastructure simplifies the previously long process of opting out of data collection.Â
Streamlining Consumer Data Protection
The California data deletion tool is now accessible for submitting requests, but the operational compliance phase for data brokers is scheduled to commence in August 2026. Upon the start of this period, brokers are allotted a 90-day window to process received requests and report their compliance status.Â
The DROP system aggregates these demands, enabling verified California residents to issue a comprehensive deletion request that applies to all currently registered data brokers, as well as those that register in the future.
Prior to this implementation, consumers were required to contact individual companies separately to exercise their privacy rights.Â
Operational Timeline and Regulatory Scope
It is critical to note that the Delete Act specifically targets third-party data brokers – entities that buy and sell data without a direct consumer relationship.Â
First-party data collected directly by companies from their users will not be covered by these specific deletion mandates.Â
Furthermore, specific categories of information, including vehicle registration records, voter rolls, and medical data protected under HIPAA, are excluded from deletion.
Implications for Data Broker Compliance
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has established strict enforcement protocols to ensure the efficacy of the Delete Act platform. Data brokers found in violation of registration requirements or failing to honor deletion requests are subject to a fine of $200 per day.Â
This initiative represents a significant shift in consumer data protection policy, aiming to reduce the volume of unsolicited communications and mitigate risks associated with identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized AI impersonation by limiting the circulation of sensitive personal information.
Meanwhile, the U.K. Children’s Wellbeing Bill, which mandates client-side scanning and potentially bans end-to-end encryption and open-source operating systems, has sparked privacy concerns, and the EU is preparing wider data retention rules that could impact VPN providers.
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