Data Brokers Are Hiding Their Opt-Out Pages From Google Search
1 min read
Summary
Over 30 data brokers in California are hiding their data deletion instructions from Google, making it hard for consumers to erase their information, according to research conducted by The Markup and CalMatters.
The companies are obeying a law that requires them to provide a route for people to opt for their data to be deleted, but many make it very difficult to locate these routes.
Nearly 35 of the 499 data brokers registered in California used code to stop some website pages from appearing in internet searches.
Seven of the firms said they would consider revising or removing the code, but two refused to remove it, claiming it was added intentionally to combat spam.
Others that didn’t reply to requests to comment did, however, remove the code after being contacted.
Two companies that had links to their privacy instructions at the bottom of their home pages required consumers to scroll through several pages before they could access the links.
