Statistics Hub

Surveillance capitalism has turned personal data into a core input for digital advertising. Global ad spend powered by personal data will exceed $600 billion in 2024, according to eMarketer. Meanwhile, 81% of Americans say they have little control over data collected about them, per Pew Research Center. The FTC has proposed new rules to curb largely unregulated data collection and sale, and you can find reduction strategies in our guide to opting out of data brokers. ...

Right to be forgotten requests remain concentrated on search engine delisting rather than full source removal. Google has processed millions of these requests since 2014, and most come from private individuals. This page covers the right to be forgotten under GDPR Article 17 before you pay for removal tools. The headline numbers matter because people often confuse delisting with deletion. A search engine may remove a link, but the source page remains live. GDPR Article 17 creates an erasure right, yet search engines only control their own indexes. If you want source-level removal, compare data removal services or contact each site directly. ...

Most Americans say they have little control over personal data collection. Pew Research Center puts the figure at 81%. The FTC warns that location data is among the most sensitive and widely traded categories. Reducing exposure starts with understanding how data brokers collect and sell your information. The control gap matters because most consumers cannot prevent collection. When 81% feel powerless, the default is often silent acceptance. The 67% knowledge gap compounds the problem. People cannot meaningfully opt out when they do not understand data flows. This is why opting out of data brokers is a practical first step. ...

Online privacy statistics for 2026 paint a clear picture: most people are worried, but few feel in control or understand the rules. Pew Research Center found 81% of Americans say they have little control over data collected about them, while 67% know little or nothing about privacy laws. KPMG research shows 86% consider data privacy a growing concern. For a practical first step, see our guide on how to opt out of data brokers. ...

Identity theft statistics 2026 point to a persistent financial crime problem. Javelin Strategy & Research counted 22 million U.S. victims and $20 billion in identity fraud losses in 2023. Synthetic identity fraud is the fastest-growing form, and data broker exposure enables many account takeovers. Here is what the verified numbers show and how to reduce your data broker footprint. The 2023 figures matter because they are the most recent complete year from Javelin. A victim count of 22 million puts identity theft at a scale that touches most U.S. communities. The $20 billion loss total shows the crime is not just common. It is financially meaningful. The FTC and other authorities link much of that exposure to data broker profiles. Removing your records from people-search sites is one of the few direct controls consumers have. Our data broker opt-out guide explains the process. ...

Data privacy law statistics 2026 show enforcement is now global and financial. The EU has issued over 4 billion euros in cumulative GDPR fines since 2018, according to the GDPR Enforcement Tracker. UNCTAD reports 137 countries now have some form of national data privacy law. For context on how these laws affect consumers, see our complete guide to data brokers. The financial scale of GDPR fines reveals a shift from warnings to real penalties. A four billion euro cumulative total means regulators treat privacy failures as material business risks. Companies that depend on data collection now face hard costs, not just compliance overhead. See the official GDPR text for enforcement criteria. ...

Data broker statistics 2026 still rest on the FTC’s 2024 data, the most complete federal snapshot. The FTC found that data brokers collect and sell billions of consumer records, often without basic transparency. People-search sites turn public records into searchable profiles on individuals. Our data broker guide explains the categories behind these findings. These findings matter because the scale is not abstract. Billions of records mean a single person can appear across many people-search sites, each holding addresses, relatives, court records, or contact details. For a direct response, see how to opt out of data brokers. ...

Data breach statistics 2026 reveal a troubling trend: 343 million victims fell to cyberattacks in a single record year. The average breach now costs $4.88 million. Human error drives 74% of cases. Anyone reducing digital exposure should consider a data broker opt-out plan. These figures matter because breach volume is not random. The 72% jump over the previous record shows attackers are scaling faster than defenses. Each compromised record can mean a phishing attempt, an account takeover, or a data broker profile with your most current details. Removing old profiles through a data removal service reduces the supply of fresh personal data. ...