Written by this site from official U.S. sources

Ask businesses what personal data they hold about you and have it deleted; your rights depend on your state, and California's CCPA is the main example

Moderate value
Evidence B
Keeps you free
Free
Takes minutes
No willpower

Sources not yet checked word by word; rely on the official pages

In plain words

The U.S. has no general federal law that lets everyone see or delete the personal data companies hold. It depends on your state. California's law (the CCPA) is the main example. You can ask a business what personal information it collects and how it uses and shares it. You can ask it to delete or correct that information, and tell it to stop selling or sharing it. The business must answer within 45 calendar days. It can extend that once by another 45 days if it tells you.

Cost: Free. Each request takes a few minutes through the company's privacy page or form.
What you get: California Attorney General: the CCPA gives California consumers "The right to know about the personal information a business collects about them and how it is used and shared"; "The right to delete personal information collected from them (with some exceptions)"; "The right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of their personal information including via the GPC"; and "The right to non-discrimination for exercising their CCPA rights." Since January 1, 2023 there is also a right to correct inaccurate information and a right to limit the use of sensitive personal information. "Businesses must respond to your request within 45 calendar days. They can extend that deadline by another 45 days (90 days total) if they notify you." If you think a business broke the CCPA, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General, or since July 1, 2023 with the California Privacy Protection Agency. The Attorney General cannot represent you personally.
Notes: California is an example. Several other states have their own consumer privacy laws with different rights and thresholds, so check your state attorney general's website. Federal law covers only certain kinds of records, for example health records and credit reports, each under its own law. The statement that no general federal law exists is from general knowledge, not quoted from the sources. Written from general knowledge of U.S. rules; the cited official page could not be opened for word-by-word checking.
Evidence grade: B: Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources: State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa

Sources checked 2026-10-12

Replaces in the original

You have the right to see, copy, correct and delete your personal information, and you can sue if you are refused

Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you.