To opt out of People Data Labs, open its Privacy Center at privacy.peopledatalabs.com, click the option to take control of your data, and choose Delete all my data (or Do not sell my personal information). Enter your full name and an email you can access, confirm the verification email, and save your confirmation. It takes about five minutes.
What Is People Data Labs?
People Data Labs (PDL) is a San Francisco-based data provider that sells person and company records to developers, recruiters, sales platforms and AI companies through an API and bulk data licenses. Unlike Spokeo or Whitepages, it is not a public name-search site: you cannot look yourself up for free. Instead, other companies plug PDL data into their own products, which is why your work email or cell number can show up in tools you have never heard of.
A PDL record typically combines:
- Full name and name variations
- Personal and work email addresses
- Mobile and landline phone numbers
- Current employer, job title and employment history
- Education history
- City, state and other location data
- LinkedIn, Facebook, GitHub and other social profile URLs
The 2019 Exposure Tied to PDL Data
In October 2019, security researchers Bob Diachenko and Vinny Troia found an unsecured Elasticsearch server holding records on roughly 1.2 billion people. The data matched PDL's enrichment output, but the server did not belong to PDL; Have I Been Pwned lists it as "Data Enrichment Exposure From PDL Customer," with 622 million unique email addresses, names, phone numbers, job titles and social profiles. It shows the real risk of enrichment data: once it is sold, it is copied into systems the original broker does not control.
How to Opt Out of People Data Labs
Step 1: Open the People Data Labs Privacy Center
Go to privacy.peopledatalabs.com. You can also reach it from the "Make a Privacy Request" or "Do Not Sell or Share" link in the footer of peopledatalabs.com. You do not need an account.
Step 2: Choose your request type
The Privacy Center offers several request types. For removal, pick one of these:
- Delete all my data — asks PDL to delete the records it holds about you. This is the strongest option.
- Do not sell my personal information — keeps your record out of PDL's products and data deliveries going forward.
- Access request — optional first step if you want to see what PDL has before deleting it.
If you identify as a consumer (rather than a PDL customer), select that option when asked.
Step 3: Enter your identifying details
Provide your full name and an email address you can access. Add other details, such as a former employer, phone number or alternate email, only if they help PDL match the right record. Do not send passwords, financial information or ID documents unless PDL specifically asks for them during verification.
Step 4: Verify your request by email
PDL sends a verification link to the email you entered. Click it to confirm. If nothing arrives within an hour, check your spam folder before resubmitting.
Step 5: Keep your confirmation and recheck
Save the confirmation email and the date you submitted. According to PDL, a fulfilled request applies to its API dataset right away, but customers who license bulk data may only receive the change in their next delivery. Recheck in 30 to 45 days by searching your email address in any sales tool that uses PDL data, and file a follow-up if the record is still being served.
Opt Out of the Tools That Buy PDL Data, Too
Removing yourself from PDL does not erase copies already sold. Sales-intelligence platforms keep their own databases, so also opt out of ZoomInfo, Apollo.io and RocketReach, which build similar contact profiles.
Opt Out by Email Instead
If the Privacy Center form does not work for you, send a written deletion request to the privacy contact email listed in PDL's privacy policy. Include your full name, every email address and phone number you want removed, and a clear statement that you are requesting deletion and opting out of sale. California residents can cite their CCPA right to delete (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105); EU and UK residents can cite GDPR Article 17. Keep a dated copy of the email.
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Your Legal Rights With People Data Labs
PDL is registered as a data broker in California and Vermont. That matters for two reasons. First, California residents can include PDL in a single deletion request through the state's DROP platform, covered in our guide to using California DROP to delete your data. Second, residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws have a legal right to delete and to opt out of sale, so PDL must respond within the statutory window (45 days in most states). If it does not, see what to do when a data broker ignores your opt-out request.
Why Your Data Comes Back
Enrichment brokers rebuild profiles constantly from new web crawls, data partners and customer uploads. A new job, a new email address or a new LinkedIn profile can create a fresh record that your original deletion did not cover. That is why one-time opt-outs rarely hold for B2B data brokers, and why ongoing monitoring matters more than any single request.
PrivacyOn handles that work for you. It scans and removes your data from 100+ data brokers and people-search sites, rechecks 24/7 for re-listings, adds dark web monitoring, and covers up to 5 family members, from $8.33/month. If you would rather compare options first, see our ranking of the best data removal services. Start with a free PrivacyOn scan to see where your information is exposed today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is People Data Labs a legitimate company?
Yes. People Data Labs is a real, venture-backed data company that sells person and company data to businesses through APIs and licenses. It is registered as a data broker in California and Vermont. Legitimate does not mean harmless: its data powers sales outreach, recruiting and fraud tools, and copies have been exposed by customers in the past.
How do I find out if People Data Labs has my data?
Submit an access request through the PDL Privacy Center at privacy.peopledatalabs.com. Because PDL is not a public search site, an access request is the only direct way to see your record. If you have had a LinkedIn profile or a work email for several years, it is very likely PDL holds a profile on you.
How long does a People Data Labs opt-out take?
PDL does not publish a fixed deadline, but fulfilled requests apply to its API data immediately after processing. State privacy laws generally require a response within 45 days. Companies that bought bulk PDL data may keep serving your old record until their next data delivery.
Was I affected by the People Data Labs data breach?
Check your email at Have I Been Pwned, which lists the 2019 incident as "Data Enrichment Exposure From PDL Customer." It exposed names, emails, phone numbers, job titles and social profiles, not passwords or Social Security numbers. If you were included, expect more targeted phishing and spam calls, and opt out of PDL to limit future copies.
Does opting out of People Data Labs remove me from other sites?
No. The opt-out only covers PDL's own products and future data deliveries. Companies that already licensed your record, and other enrichment brokers like ZoomInfo, Apollo and Lusha, need separate requests. A data removal service such as PrivacyOn automates those requests across 100+ brokers and repeats them when your data reappears.