Home privacy, explained

The questions people ask before (and after) they try to get their home off the internet. Honest answers, including what can't be removed.

• How to blur your house on Google Street View, Apple Maps, and Bing

  Step-by-step: request a permanent blur of your home on Google Street View, Apple Look Around, and Bing Streetside — what to click, what to expect, and what can't be undone.

• You bought the house. Why are the listing photos still online, and how do you remove them?

  Listing photos of your home stay on Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and dozens of other sites for years after closing. Here's where they come from and how to get them taken down.

• Why are there photos of my house online? Every source, and what you can do about each

  Listing sites, the MLS, street imagery, county records, and people-search brokers each publish something about your home. Here's the complete map of sources, and which ones you can actually remove.

• What is an authorized agent for privacy requests, and why do data brokers ask for one?

  Under the CCPA and other state privacy laws you can appoint an agent to file deletion and opt-out requests for you. Here's what brokers can require, what a valid authorization looks like, and why it matters.

• California's Delete Act and DROP: one request to 500+ data brokers, explained

  California residents can file a single deletion request through the state's DROP platform that every registered data broker must honor. What it covers, what it doesn't, and how to use it.

• The people-search sites that actually matter in 2026, and how each one removes you

  There are hundreds of people-search sites, but a few dozen networks feed nearly all of them. Which ones to prioritize, how they're related, and whether each accepts email, a form, or a CAPTCHA-gated opt-out.

• Is it legal to remove your home and personal information from the internet?

  Yes. State privacy laws give you the right to demand deletion from data brokers, and listing sites and map providers honor owner requests under their own policies. What the law covers, what it doesn't, and what you don't need a lawyer for.

• How long do home and personal data removal requests take? Real timelines by site type

  The law allows 45 days, but most removals happen faster — or slower, when a site pushes back. Realistic timelines for listing sites, people-search brokers, the MLS, and street-imagery blurs.

Looking for a specific site? Site-by-site removal guides →