Tired of spam calls and texts? There’s a new way to dodge them in California
Tired of annoying spam calls and texts? A new program will help California residents dodge more of them in 2026.
The California Privacy Protection Agency launched the new platform — called the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform, or DROP — on Jan. 1.
“DROP gives you more control over your data,” the state Privacy Protection Agency said on its website. “You can tell data brokers to delete and not sell your personal information.”
The website is free to use and only takes a few minutes to get set up, as long as you’re a California resident.
Here’s what to know about taking control of your data this year:
What is California digital privacy platform? How does it work?
The Delete Request and Opt-out Platform is a first-in-the-nation portal that lets California residents “wipe away a large part of their digital footprints in one fell swoop,” SFGate previously reported.
The Golden State has led the nation in pushing for digital privacy by granting residents the right to force a company to delete their stored personal data, the news outlet reported.
In the past, that required them to contact individual companies or data brokers to request one-by-one deletions.
DROP streamlines that process by letting users send a single request to more than 500 registered data brokers that then delete your data every 45 days, according to the California Private Protection Agency.
This limits “the information data brokers collect and sell about you,” the state agency said, including social security numbers, financial account credentials, search history and details about your family.
The result is fewer spam texts, calls and emails and decreased risk of identity theft, fraud, artificial intelligence impersonations or data leaks and hacks, according to the DROP website.
Who’s eligible to opt out of spam calls, texts?
All California residents are eligible to opt out of spam calls and texts via DROP.
You can verify that you are a resident of California by providing basic info through the state’s secure California Identity Gateway.
You won’t need to create an account and DROP won’t retain your information. You can enter your information directly or verify your residency using Login.gov.
You can also submit a DROP request for another California resident in some cases, such as a parent submitting a request for a child, or a family member submitting a request for an elderly relative.
How do I get started using DROP?
According to the state Private Protection Agency, new DROP users can get started in “three easy steps.”
Here’s what to do:
- Verify your eligibility by confirming that you’re a California resident.
- Create a profile using your basic information and only share what you want.
- Submit your DROP request, which lets users send a single request to more than 500 registered data brokers.
What information do I need to provide?
To prove you’re a California resident, you can provide:
- Location of your primary residence
- Which state issued your driver’s license or ID
- Where you’re registered to vote
You can include the following information in your profile:
- Names (including maiden names)
- Date of birth
- ZIP Code
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
- Mobile Advertising IDs
- Connected TV IDs
- Vehicle identification numbers
You can include as much or as little information as you’d like, the California Privacy Protection Agency said, noting that “the more information you enter, the more likely your data will be deleted.”
How can I check my request status?
You can check the status of your DROP request, but the status won’t change until data brokers start processing requests starting Saturday, Aug. 1.
They must delete your data within 90 days — no later than? Sunday, Nov. 1, the website says.
Statuses include:
- Deleted: Data brokers deleted your data and will no longer sell your information.
- Exempted: Data brokers are allowed to keep the information they have about you because it’s exempt by law. Exempted data can include public records or certain health information.
- Opted-out: Data brokers couldn’t make an exact match based on the information you provided. That means data brokers will still have your data but can no longer sell it.
- Record not found: Data brokers might not have information about you or couldn’t locate you based on the information you provided.
- Pending: Data brokers haven’t processed your deletion request yet. By law they have 90 days to report how they processed your request.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 9:08 AM with the headline "Tired of spam calls and texts? There’s a new way to dodge them in California."
