How to Opt Out of IRBsearch

IRBsearch is an investigative data broker that provides access to a massive database of public records, people-search data, asset information, and more. Its primary users are law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, private investigation firms, and legal professionals. If your personal information is in the IRBsearch database, it is available to thousands of licensed professionals who pay for access. Here is how to request removal of your data from IRBsearch.

What Is IRBsearch?

IRBsearch (Investigative Research Bureau Search) is a professional-grade data aggregation platform that compiles information from hundreds of public and proprietary data sources. Unlike consumer-facing people-search sites where anyone can look you up for a few dollars, IRBsearch requires users to be vetted professionals with a legitimate business purpose.

The types of data available through IRBsearch include:

• Personal identifiers: Full legal name, aliases, date of birth, and Social Security number
• Addresses: Current and historical residential addresses
• Phone numbers: Current, historical, landline, and cell phone numbers
• Email addresses: Known email accounts
• Relatives and associates: Family members and known connections
• Property records: Real estate ownership, deeds, liens, and tax assessments
• Vehicle and boat registrations: Ownership records from DMV databases
• Court records: Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, judgments, and bankruptcies
• Asset information: Financial indicators, property values, and business affiliations
• Professional licenses: State-issued professional and business licenses
• Social media profiles: Linked online accounts and digital footprint data

The breadth and depth of IRBsearch data make it one of the more comprehensive investigative databases available to professionals.

Step 1: Submit an Opt-Out Request Online

IRBsearch provides a privacy page where individuals can submit opt-out requests:

1. Visit: irbsearch.com/privacy.html
2. Locate the opt-out form: The privacy page includes a form or instructions for submitting a data removal request.
3. Provide your personal information: Include your full legal name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, and any other identifying details that will help IRBsearch locate your records in their database.
4. Submit the request: Complete and submit the form.

Step 2: Send an Email Request

In addition to or instead of the online form, you can email IRBsearch directly to request data removal:

1. Send an email to: customercare@irbsearch.com
2. Use a clear subject line: Something like "Data Removal / Privacy Opt-Out Request"
3. Include the following details in your email:
   • Your full legal name and any former names or aliases
   • Current address and all previous addresses you want removed
   • Date of birth
   • A clear statement requesting removal of all your personal information from the IRBsearch database
4. Keep a copy of your email: Save the sent email and any confirmation or response you receive for your records.

Who Gets Priority Processing?

IRBsearch has indicated that certain categories of individuals may receive priority consideration for opt-out requests:

• Public and elected officials: Government officials who face heightened security concerns
• Law enforcement officers: Active and retired law enforcement personnel
• Identity theft victims: Individuals who can demonstrate they have been victims of identity theft
• Individuals facing risk of harm: People who can show they are at risk of stalking, harassment, domestic violence, or other threats to their safety

If you fall into any of these categories, mention it in your opt-out request and provide supporting documentation where possible, such as a police report for identity theft or a protective order for safety concerns.

Step 3: Verify Removal

After submitting your opt-out request and allowing sufficient processing time, take steps to verify that your information has been removed:

• If you have access to an IRBsearch account through your profession, run a search on yourself
• Ask a colleague with IRBsearch access to check whether your records still appear
• Monitor other data brokers that may share data with IRBsearch, since your removal from one platform does not automatically remove you from others

Why Your Data May Reappear

Even after a successful opt-out, your information may eventually reappear in IRBsearch for several reasons:

• Public records are continuously updated: IRBsearch sources data from public records databases that are updated regularly. New property transactions, court filings, or voter registrations can re-introduce your data.
• Data broker interconnections: IRBsearch aggregates data from multiple sources, including other data brokers. Even if IRBsearch removes your records, a partner source may feed the data back in during the next update cycle.
• No legal obligation for permanent removal: Unlike consumer reporting agencies governed by the FCRA, investigative data brokers like IRBsearch operate under different rules. There is no federal law that requires them to permanently remove your data after an opt-out request.

This means opt-outs must be treated as an ongoing process, not a one-time task.

Additional Steps to Protect Your Privacy

To reduce the likelihood of your information reappearing on IRBsearch and similar platforms:

• Opt out of upstream data brokers: IRBsearch sources data from other aggregators. Removing your information from data brokers like LexisNexis, Acxiom, and major people-search sites cuts off some of the supply.
• Minimize your public records footprint: Use a P.O. Box for mail where possible, opt out of voter registration public listings in states that allow it, and use an LLC or trust for property ownership.
• Freeze your credit at all bureaus: Credit freezes at Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis prevent some types of data from being generated and shared.
• Set up ongoing monitoring: Periodically check investigative data brokers and people-search sites to see if your information has resurfaced.

Key Points to Remember

• IRBsearch serves vetted professionals. Its users include law enforcement, insurance investigators, attorneys, and licensed private investigators.
• The opt-out process is not instant. Expect processing to take several weeks, and follow up if you do not receive confirmation.
• Removal may not be permanent. Public records updates can re-add your data to the IRBsearch database over time.
• Provide complete information. The more details you include in your request, the more effectively IRBsearch can locate and remove all records associated with you.

Opting out of IRBsearch addresses one investigative database, but your personal information likely exists across dozens of similar platforms and hundreds of people-search sites. Manually tracking and re-submitting opt-out requests across all of them is a significant time investment. PrivacyOn handles this ongoing removal process for you, monitoring over 100 data brokers and people-search sites and automatically submitting removal requests whenever your information resurfaces.