LGBT Q&A: How Can I Wipe Online Data That Points To My Queer Identity?

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, your personal information is likely scattered across two places online: wherever you posted it yourself, and in the hands of data brokers who collect, repackage, and sell your data to the highest bidders. The good news: you can take steps to minimize what's out there—especially if it reveals sensitive aspects of your identity. Start by searching for yourself in a private browser window. Try your name, nicknames, email addresses, and phone numbers to see what's publicly visible. Then audit your social media and forum accounts to review what you've posted and who can access it. To block future tracking, the EFF recommends establishing strong, unique passwords and setting up two-factor authentication on all accounts. Install Privacy Badger, a browser extension that stops trackers from collecting data about your habits. Also remove the advertising ID from your phone settings to reduce tracking there. For data already held by brokers, you can request deletion. California residents can use the state's Privacy Protection Agency tool. Others might use services like EasyOptOuts or Optery to streamline removal requests across multiple brokers. Finally, Google's "Results About You" page lets you remove certain information from search results—though that removes it from Google only, not from the internet itself. The EFF stresses that protecting your information before problems arise is far more effective than trying to recover it later.

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