Prediction 4
Data Broker Removal will no longer be sufficient to ensure data privacy.
Prediction 4
Data Broker Removal will no longer be sufficient to ensure data privacy.
The data privacy landscape is undergoing a significant legal transformation as Data Broker Removal (DBR) becomes mandated law on a state-by-state basis across the U.S. While landmark actions like California's Delete Act (enforceable in August 2026) and New Jersey's Daniel's Law* will force data brokers to recognize citizens' right to reclaim their personal information, this alone is not enough. The risk of exposure remains critical, largely due to the 2024 National Public Data (NPD) data breach, which permanently released vast amounts of personal information on over 270 million Americans onto the dark web, meaning the information can never be entirely erased. Therefore, while compliance with DBR laws is essential, it only addresses future data collection. As a result, in the coming year, individuals will embrace a multi-layered, continuous defense strategy that goes beyond basic removal.
This comprehensive defense will include masking personal identifiers for everyday online transactions, rigorous use of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) like encrypted email and VPNs, and deployment of dark web monitoring to alert them immediately when their existing credentials are weaponized.
Key Takeaways
DBR is insufficient for comprehensive privacy protection
Due to massive data breaches, personal information is permanently indexed on the dark web, meaning DBR services cannot guarantee total privacy or the removal of all exposed data.
Required defense layers
Individuals will adopt advanced protection methods, including masking their primary identifiers (email/phone), using PETs, and deploying dark web monitoring to defend data that already exists beyond brokers' reach.
State-level mandates
The absence of stringent federal data protection will push individual U.S. states to pass their own DBR regulations, turning the deletion process into a legal compliance requirement.
Commoditization of services
As similar legislation is adopted across multiple states, DBR will become a standard, commoditized service offering, necessitating that individuals seek specialized, comprehensive security providers for holistic digital protection.
* Daniel's Law was passed in November 2020 in response to the tragic murder of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, who was targeted by a disgruntled litigant and whose address was publicly available online. Daniel's Law protects the personal information of certain public servants and their immediate family members by prohibiting the disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished home telephone numbers on the internet.