# The DELETE Act: What It Means for Your Personal Data

Companies called data brokers collect and sell your personal information all the time—your name, address, phone number, browsing history, location data, and much more. They buy this information from various sources and then sell it to other companies for marketing, background checks, or other purposes. The DELETE Act creates a new system to let you take back control of that data.

Here's what the bill does in practical terms: It requires data brokers to register with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and provide information about what data they collect and how they operate. More importantly, it sets up a centralized website where you can submit one deletion request that automatically goes to all registered data brokers at once. Instead of having to contact dozens of companies individually, you fill out a simple form with your email, phone number, and address, and the system handles the rest. The data brokers then have 31 days to delete all your personal information from their databases. This is free for you—there's no charge to make a deletion request.

The bill also creates a "Do Not Track" list. Once you submit a deletion request, data brokers are prohibited from collecting your information again unless you specifically ask them to. If they accidentally collect your data anyway, they have to delete it immediately. The system uses encrypted technology called "hashing" to protect your information while it's being processed, so your actual personal details aren't exposed to unnecessary risk.

To make sure companies actually follow these rules, the FTC will conduct audits every three years, and data brokers must submit annual reports showing how many deletion requests they completed and whether they're respecting the Do Not Track list. Violations are treated as unfair business practices, giving the FTC power to investigate and penalize companies that don't comply. The bill also requires the FTC to study how well the system works and report back to Congress with recommendations for improvements.

DELETE Act

Trahan, Lori

Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange Act or the DELETE Act This bill establishes a process for the deletion of personal information held by data brokers (i.e., entities that collect or obtain personal information for commercial purposes from individuals with whom they do not have a direct relationship). First, it requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue rules requiring data brokers to (1) register with the commission, (2) provide specified contact information, and (3) disclose certain data collection practices. Second, the commission must establish a centralized system to allow individuals to make a single request for the deletion of any of their personal information held by a data broker (or an affiliated legal entity). Each data broker must delete the personal information not later than 31 days after a request is made. An individual who submits a deletion request also must be added to a do-not-track list and registered data brokers are prohibited from collecting personal information about that individual. The bill provides for enforcement of these requirements by the commission.