How to Opt Out of Data Brokers in Alabama

Alabama residents are getting significant new privacy protections. On April 17, 2026, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act (APDPA) into law, making Alabama the 21st state with a comprehensive consumer privacy law. Taking effect on May 1, 2027, the APDPA gives residents the right to opt out of data sales, targeted advertising, and certain types of profiling. Here is everything you need to know about opting out of data brokers in Alabama.

What the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act Covers

The APDPA applies to businesses that conduct business in Alabama or target products and services to Alabama residents, provided they meet one of two thresholds:

• Control or process the personal data of more than 25,000 Alabama consumers
• Derive more than 25% of gross revenue from the sale of personal data, regardless of how many consumers are involved

That second threshold is particularly important. Alabama is the first state to apply the 25% revenue threshold without requiring a minimum consumer count. This means even small data brokers that make their money primarily by selling personal information fall under the law, closing a loophole that exists in many other states.

Your Rights Under the APDPA

Once the APDPA takes effect on May 1, 2027, Alabama residents will have the following rights:

• Right to opt out of data sales: You can direct any covered business to stop selling your personal data to third parties
• Right to opt out of targeted advertising: You can stop businesses from using your data to serve you targeted ads
• Right to opt out of profiling: You can refuse automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects
• Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal data a business holds about you
• Right to deletion: You can request that a business delete your personal data
• Right to correction: You can request corrections to inaccurate personal data
• Right to data portability: You can obtain your data in a portable, readily usable format

How Opt-Out Requests Work

Under the APDPA, businesses that sell personal data must provide a clear and conspicuous link on their website that allows consumers to opt out directly. Beginning January 1, 2028, businesses must also honor opt-out preference signals, such as the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser setting, giving you an automated way to communicate your opt-out preferences across the web.

When you submit a request, the business must respond within 45 days. They can extend this by an additional 45 days if the request is complex, but they must notify you of the extension.

Special Protections for Minors

The APDPA includes enhanced protections for young people. Businesses cannot process the personal data of consumers aged 13 to 15 for targeted advertising or sell their data without obtaining affirmative consent. This is an important safeguard for Alabama families concerned about how their children's data is being used.

Step 1: Find Where Your Data Appears

Even before the APDPA takes effect, you can start removing your information from data brokers. Begin by searching for yourself on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo using variations of your name combined with your city, zip code, street name, or phone number.

Common data brokers where Alabama residents frequently appear include:

• Spokeo (spokeo.com)
• BeenVerified (beenverified.com)
• Whitepages (whitepages.com)
• TruePeopleSearch (truepeoplesearch.com)
• Intelius (intelius.com)
• PeopleFinder (peoplefinder.com)
• Radaris (radaris.com)
• FastPeopleSearch (fastpeoplesearch.com)
• Nuwber (nuwber.com)
• MyLife (mylife.com)

Step 2: Submit Opt-Out Requests

Each data broker has its own opt-out process. For each site where your data appears:

1. Locate the opt-out page. Look for links labeled "Do Not Sell My Information," "Privacy," or "Opt Out" in the site footer.
2. Find your profile. Most opt-out pages require you to search for and identify your specific listing.
3. Submit the removal request. Complete the opt-out form with identifying information such as your name, address, and email.
4. Verify via email. Many brokers send a confirmation email you must click to complete the process. Check your spam folder.
5. Wait for processing. Removal timelines range from 24 hours to 30 days.
6. Verify removal. Return to the site after the processing period to confirm your profile has been removed.

Step 3: Address Alabama-Specific Data Sources

Data brokers pull much of their information from public records. In Alabama, key sources include:

• Property records: County records include your name, address, and property details. Consider using a trust or LLC for future property purchases to keep your name out of public databases.
• Voter registration: Alabama voter records include your name, address, and date of birth. Certain individuals, such as law enforcement officers and domestic violence victims, may be eligible for address confidentiality programs.
• Court records: Alabama court records are publicly accessible. Sensitive records may be sealed by court order in some circumstances.
• Vehicle records: The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) provides federal-level protections for motor vehicle records, but certain exceptions apply.

Step 4: Monitor and Repeat

Data brokers constantly rebuild their databases from public records, marketing lists, and information shared between brokers. Even after a successful opt-out, your data will likely reappear within weeks or months. You need to:

• Re-check each broker every 2-3 months
• Resubmit opt-out requests when your data reappears
• Watch for new brokers that may have acquired your information

Manually monitoring 50 to 100 or more sites is a significant time commitment. Most people spend 20 to 40 hours on their initial round of opt-outs, with additional hours required for each follow-up cycle.

The Easier Way: Let PrivacyOn Handle It

Rather than spending dozens of hours navigating confusing opt-out forms and repeating the process every few months, PrivacyOn automates opt-outs from 100+ data brokers on your behalf. This is especially valuable for Alabama residents during the period before the APDPA takes effect and for ongoing protection afterward.

What PrivacyOn provides for Alabama residents:

• Automated opt-out submissions to 100+ data brokers and people-search sites
• Continuous monitoring for your data reappearing on broker sites
• Automatic re-submissions when brokers re-list your information
• Dark web scanning to detect your data in breach databases
• Family coverage with plans covering up to 5 people

Plans start at just $8.33/month ($99.96/year). Even after the APDPA takes full effect in 2027, PrivacyOn provides the continuous, automated enforcement that ensures your opt-out requests are actually honored across the data broker ecosystem.

Alabama Privacy Resources

• Alabama Attorney General Consumer Protection: File complaints at alabamaag.gov
• Alabama Personal Data Protection Act: Signed April 17, 2026, effective May 1, 2027
• FTC Identity Theft Reporting: identitytheft.gov
• Global Privacy Control: globalprivacycontrol.org (supported by the APDPA starting January 2028)

Take Action Now

Alabama's new privacy law is a meaningful step forward, but you do not have to wait until May 2027 to start protecting your data. Every day your personal information sits exposed on data broker sites is another day it can be used for spam calls, phishing scams, stalking, or identity theft. Whether you opt out manually or let PrivacyOn automate the process, the best time to start is today.