How to Opt Out of Data Brokers in Michigan

Michigan residents have their personal information—home addresses, phone numbers, property records, and more—listed on hundreds of data broker websites. While Michigan is on the verge of passing its first comprehensive privacy law, you don't have to wait for the legislature to start protecting yourself.

Why Michigan Residents Are at Risk

Data brokers thrive on publicly available information, and Michigan provides plenty. County register of deeds offices publish property ownership records online, voter registration data is available for purchase, and court records are accessible through the Michigan Courts website. Brokers scrape all of this, combine it with information from social media, loyalty programs, and other sources, then sell comprehensive profiles to marketers, scammers, and anyone else willing to pay.

For Michigan residents, this means your home address in Grand Rapids, your property value in Ann Arbor, or your phone number in Detroit could be just a few clicks away on sites like Spokeo, WhitePages, or BeenVerified.

Does Michigan Have a Privacy Law?

Not yet, but one is close. Senate Bill 359, the Michigan Personal Data Privacy Act (MPDPA), passed the Michigan Senate in 2025 and is currently pending in the House. If enacted, it would be Michigan's first comprehensive consumer privacy law, granting residents the right to:

• Access the personal data businesses collect about you
• Correct inaccurate personal data
• Delete your personal data
• Port your data in a usable format
• Opt out of the sale of personal data, targeted advertising, and profiling

The bill would also require data brokers to register annually with the Michigan Attorney General beginning February 1, 2026. Brokers that fail to register would face fines of $100 per day.

What Protections Exist Today?

Michigan residents currently rely on a patchwork of existing laws:

• Identity Theft Protection Act (Act 452 of 2004): Requires businesses to notify you of data breaches involving your personal information
• Social Security Number Privacy Act: Restricts the public display and use of Social Security numbers
• Michigan Consumer Protection Act: Prohibits unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable business practices

While these laws provide some protections, none give you the explicit right to demand data brokers delete your information—yet.

Step 1: Find Your Information Online

Start by searching for yourself. Use Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo with your full name plus "Michigan" or your city. Try variations like "Jane Smith Lansing MI" or "Jane Smith Michigan phone number." Common data broker sites that list Michigan residents include:

• TruePeopleSearch
• Spokeo
• BeenVerified
• WhitePages
• FastPeopleSearch
• PeopleFinders
• Radaris
• Nuwber
• Intelius
• MyLife

Document every site where your information appears—you'll need this list for the opt-out process.

Step 2: Submit Opt-Out Requests

Each data broker has its own removal process. For every site on your list:

1. Look for a "Privacy Policy," "Do Not Sell My Info," or "Opt Out" link in the footer
2. Navigate to the opt-out or removal request form
3. Enter the required identifying information (typically name, address, email)
4. Check your email and click the verification link they send
5. Take screenshots of each submission for your records
6. Check back in 7–30 days to confirm your profile has been removed

Step 3: Limit Michigan Public Records Exposure

Since data brokers feed on public records, reducing your exposure at the source helps long-term:

• Property records: Consider holding property through an LLC or land trust to keep your name off public deeds filed with county register of deeds offices
• Voter registration: Michigan law limits who can access voter data, but your name and address are still available in the qualified voter file. Contact your local clerk about available protections.
• Court records: The Michigan Courts website publishes case information. You can petition to seal certain records where legally permitted.
• Vehicle registration: Michigan's Driver Privacy Protection Act restricts access to motor vehicle records, but some data still flows to brokers through other channels.

Step 4: Protect Yourself After Removal

Opting out of data brokers is just one part of a privacy strategy. Take these additional steps:

• Freeze your credit with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)—it's free in Michigan
• Set up fraud alerts if you suspect your information has been misused
• Use unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts
• Monitor the dark web for your personal information appearing in breach databases

The Easier Way: Let PrivacyOn Handle It

Manually opting out of 100+ data brokers is a 40-hour project that needs to be repeated indefinitely. PrivacyOn automates the entire process for Michigan residents. We submit removal requests to more than 100 data broker sites on your behalf, continuously monitor for re-listings, and re-submit opt-outs whenever your data reappears.

PrivacyOn also includes dark web monitoring—so if your personal information shows up in a data breach or on underground marketplaces, you'll be the first to know. Plans start at just $8.33/month, and family plans cover up to 5 people.

Michigan Privacy Resources

• Michigan AG Consumer Protection: File complaints at michigan.gov/consumerprotection
• Identity Theft Protection Act: Act 452 of 2004 covers breach notification requirements
• SB 359 (MPDPA): Track the bill's progress through the Michigan Legislature
• FTC Identity Theft Reporting: File reports at IdentityTheft.gov

Don't Wait for the Law—Act Now

Michigan's comprehensive privacy law is coming, but your data is exposed today. Every day your personal information sits on data broker sites is another day it can be used for spam, scams, or worse. Whether you tackle opt-outs manually or let PrivacyOn automate the process, the time to start is now.