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Napoli, Biagio Maimone presenta il tour “La parola è vita”: la cultura del dialogo contro l’odio sui social, la violenza verbale e la povertà

22 October 2026 at 19:53

Napoli, Biagio Maimone presenta il tour “La parola è vita”

Con il patrocinio del Comune di Napoli, della Città Metropolitana di Napoli, della Commissione europea edell‘Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, giovedì 3 dicembre 2026, dalle ore 14.00 alle ore 18.00, la Sala dei Baroni del MaschioAngioino ospiterà la prima tappa del tour “La Parola è Vita – Tour della parola e del dialogo nelle Regioni e nelle Città italiane ed europee”, un progetto culturale che pone al centro il valore della parola quale strumento di dialogo, rispetto, inclusione e crescita umana, organizzato dal giornalista

Biagio Maimone, definito il “giornalista dei poveri” per aver raccontato, nel corso degli anni, situazioni di grave disagio sociale, è Direttore della Comunicazione della Fondazione Bambino Gesù del Cairo, presieduta da Mons. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, già segretario personale di PapaFrancesco. La Fondazione, fortemente voluta e benedetta dallo stesso Pontefice, si dedica alla tutela e all’assistenza dei bambini che vivono in condizioni di povertà e abbandono, attraverserà città e regioni italiane ed europee con l’obiettivo di promuovere una cultura della comunicazione responsabile, capace di contrastare le divisioni, favorire la comprensione reciproca e restituire alla parola la sua funzione più alta: creare relazioni, riconoscere la dignità dell’altro e contribuire alla costruzione di una società più giusta, solidale e umana.

L’iniziativa coinvolgerà esponenti del mondo della cultura, delle istituzioni, della musica, dello spettacolo, della letteratura e dello sport, insieme a personalità di diversi ambiti professionali e sociali, chiamate a riflettere sul ruolo della parola nel nostro tempo e sulle responsabilità che accompagnano il suo utilizzo nella vita pubblica, nelle relazioni interpersonali e negli spazi digitali.

La scelta di Napoli come città inaugurale assume un significato culturale e simbolico particolare. Città dalla straordinaria tradizione artistica, letteraria e umanistica, Napoli diventa il punto di partenza di un percorso che intende valorizzare la bellezza come principio di elevazione individuale e collettiva, il dialogo come fondamento della convivenza e la cultura come strumento di emancipazione sociale.

Biagio Maimone: «Da Napoli la rinascita culturale della parola per una società più umana»

«Napoli rappresenta il luogo ideale da cui avviare un percorso culturale che invita a riscoprire la forza e la responsabilità della parola. Da questa città può prendere avvio una rivoluzione culturale della comunicazione, capace di contribuire alla nascita di una società più umana, fondata sulla bellezza, sulla dignità della persona, sull’ascolto e sull’emancipazione sociale», dichiara Biagio Maimone, giornalista e promotore dell’iniziativa.

«Le parole possono ferire, umiliare e dividere, ma possono anche incoraggiare, unire, educare e creare ponti tra persone e culture differenti. Per questo è necessario riscoprire il valore etico della comunicazione, assumendosi la responsabilità di ciò che si dice e si scrive, anche negli spazi digitali. La parola non è mai priva di conseguenze: contribuisce a formare le coscienze, orienta le relazioni e può diventare uno strumento di esclusione oppure un veicolo di riconoscimento, solidarietà e trasformazione sociale».

La parola come strumento di rispetto, inclusione e responsabilità

Il progetto La Parola è Vita nasce dalla consapevolezza che il linguaggio non costituisce soltanto un mezzo per trasmettere informazioni, ma rappresenta una dimensione fondamentale dell’esperienza umana, attraverso la quale si costruiscono identità, relazioni e modelli di convivenza.

Le parole possono alimentare pregiudizi, stereotipi e discriminazioni, oppure favorire la conoscenza reciproca, l’ascolto e il superamento delle barriere culturali. Promuovere una cultura del dialogo significa, pertanto, riconoscere che il rispetto dell’altro comincia anche dal linguaggio con cui lo si nomina, lo si interpreta e ci si rivolge a lui.

L’iniziativa intende stimolare una riflessione sul valore della comunicazione responsabile, sulla fraternità e sulla necessità di riconoscere la dignità di ogni essere umano, al di là delle differenze di provenienza, cultura, opinione e convinzioni personali.

Particolare attenzione è rivolta alle nuove generazioni, che vivono in un contesto nel quale i social network e gli strumenti digitali offrono straordinarie opportunità di espressione e partecipazione, ma possono anche favorire la diffusione dell’aggressività verbale, del cyberbullismo e dei linguaggi d’odio.

Educare alla parola significa educare alla responsabilità, sviluppare il pensiero critico e comprendere che il confronto tra idee differenti può rappresentare un’occasione di crescita, senza degenerare in ostilità, umiliazione o discriminazione. Significa, inoltre, riconoscere nella comunicazione uno spazio educativo e civile nel quale si formano la coscienza individuale e il senso della responsabilità collettiva.

Povertà culturale e povertà economica: la cultura come strumento di emancipazione

La riflessione sulla parola e sul dialogo si intreccia con una questione fondamentale per il futuro delle società contemporanee: il rapporto tra povertà culturale, disuguaglianze sociali e povertà economica. Diffondere la cultura della bellezza, dell’ascolto e del dialogo significa contribuire alla costruzione di una società nella quale ogni persona possa sviluppare le proprie capacità, acquisire consapevolezza dei propri diritti e partecipare attivamente alla vita collettiva.

La povertà economica e quella culturale sono fenomeni distinti, ma possono alimentarsi reciprocamente. La mancanza di opportunità educative, l’accesso diseguale alla conoscenza e l’insufficiente valorizzazione delle capacità individuali possono limitare le possibilità di emancipazione, perpetuando condizioni di marginalità e disuguaglianza.

La cultura, intesa come accesso al sapere, sviluppo della coscienza critica, educazione alla bellezza e capacità di comprendere la realtà, può contribuire a contrastare questi processi. Non rappresenta soltanto un patrimonio da custodire, ma una risorsa da rendere accessibile, affinché diventi occasione concreta di crescita personale, partecipazione democratica e progresso sociale.

In questa prospettiva, la cultura del dialogo assume un significato che supera la dimensione comunicativa e si traduce in un progetto di civiltà: costruire comunità più inclusive, nelle quali le differenze non diventino motivo di esclusione e le opportunità di crescita non siano privilegio di pochi.

«La ricchezza autentica di una società non si misura esclusivamente attraverso gli indicatori economici, ma anche attraverso la sua capacità di promuovere conoscenza, solidarietà, altruismo e benessere condiviso. La cultura deve diventare uno strumento di emancipazione, capace di contrastare le disuguaglianze e di generare nuove possibilità per tutti. L’altruismo non impoverisce: quando si traduce in responsabilità, cooperazione e attenzione verso gli altri, può generare una ricchezza umana e sociale che si riflette sul benessere dell’intera collettività», è il principio che anima il percorso culturale promosso da Biagio Maimone.

La diffusione della cultura e del dialogo si configura così come un investimento nella persona e nella società: un percorso volto a promuovere una concezione dello sviluppo nella quale la dignità umana, la giustizia sociale e la solidarietà costituiscano elementi essenziali del progresso.

Da Napoli un percorso di dialogo e rinnovamento culturale

La tappa napoletana segna l’avvio di un itinerario che attraverserà regioni e città italiane ed europee, portando al centro del dibattito pubblico una cultura della comunicazione fondata sul rispetto, sulla consapevolezza e sulla centralità della persona.

Il Maschio Angioino, luogo emblematico della storia e dell’identità di Napoli, farà da cornice a un appuntamento che intende riaffermare il valore della parola quale espressione della libertà umana, strumento di conoscenza e possibilità concreta di costruire la pace sociale.

Il tour La Parola è Vita si propone di alimentare una riflessione collettiva sul modo in cui comunichiamo, sulle responsabilità che derivano dall’uso del linguaggio e sulla possibilità di trasformare il dialogo in una pratica quotidiana di rispetto, inclusione e partecipazione.

«La parola è vita perché dà forma ai pensieri, esprime sentimenti, crea relazioni e può cambiare il modo in cui guardiamo gli altri. Recuperarne il valore significa contribuire a una società più consapevole, capace di riconoscere nell’altro non un avversario, ma una persona da ascoltare e rispettare. Significa anche comprendere che la bellezza, la cultura e la solidarietà non sono elementi accessori della vita sociale, ma condizioni fondamentali per costruire un futuro nel quale nessuno venga privato della propria dignità o delle possibilità di realizzarsi», conclude Biagio Maimone.

Con l’avvio del tour, Napoli si propone dunque come punto di partenza di un percorso culturale che attribuisce alla parola una responsabilità profondamente umana e sociale: unire ciò che è diviso, favorire la conoscenza reciproca, contrastare ogni forma di esclusione e contribuire alla costruzione di una società nella quale la cultura sia accessibile, la solidarietà diventi pratica concreta e la dignità della persona rappresenti il principio irrinunciabile della convivenza.

INFORMAZIONI SULL’EVENTO

La Parola è Vita – Tour della parola e del dialogo nelle Regioni e nelle Città italiane ed europee

Data: giovedì 3 dicembre 2026

Orario: dalle 14.00 alle 18.00

Luogo: Sala dei Baroni, Maschio Angioino, Napoli

Promotore: Biagio Maimone, giornalista

Patrocini: Comune di Napoli, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Commissione europea e Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II.

Napoli, Biagio Maimone presenta il tour “La parola è vita”: la cultura del dialogo contro l’odio sui social, la violenza verbale e la povertà

L'articolo Napoli, Biagio Maimone presenta il tour “La parola è vita”: la cultura del dialogo contro l’odio sui social, la violenza verbale e la povertà proviene da Affaritaliani.it.

Paul George reflects on health after injury-riddled 76ers stint, strong Celtics debut

22 October 2026 at 19:49

Paul George’s first night in green was memorable for all the right reasons, except for the final score. The nine-time All-Star delivered a record-setting performance during Tuesday's NBA opener, despite the Boston Celtics falling 121-113 to the Detroit Pistons.

George scored 38 points in 31 minutes during his Celtics debut, the most ever by a player in his first game with the franchise.

While the loss dampened George’s performance, it did give Boston an encouraging glimpse of what he can provide after injury-plagued stints with his previous teams.

BOSTON CELTICS' PAUL GEORGE HIT WITH FLOPPING FINE AFTER 38-POINT DEBUT ENDS IN COLLAPSE

George said the last time he felt this healthy was toward the end of his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, and admitted an injury lingered during his run with the 76ers.

"My stint in LA. I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then, honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn’t quite shake that one — it was an ongoing thing of my leg, my knee not feeling strong, and it was rough, right?" the 36-year-old said.

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LUKA DONČIĆ SAYS HE 'DEFINITELY' REGRETS PLAYING THROUGH HAMSTRING INJURY THAT ENDED HIS SEASON

"Because I was trying to rest, but I was also trying to be available for the team, and just couldn’t quite find the time to let it all come together."

Injury setbacks and load management arguably became a theme of George's stints with the Clippers and Sixers. He's managed to play at least 57 games during the regular season just once since taking the court for 77 contests in the 2018-19 campaign. That year also marked his last season with Oklahoma City.

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The Celtics visit New York City on Friday night to face the defending champion Knicks. Both teams are seeking their first win of the 2026-27 season after losing their openers.

Australia pastor case 'canary in the coal mine' for American Christian freedoms: TPUSA leader

22 October 2026 at 19:42

A Turning Point USA faith leader is calling on President Donald Trump to intervene after Australian lawmakers grilled a Christian church leader about his religious beliefs, including whether he influences members' marriages, hairstyles and even pet ownership.

Lucas Miles, vice president of faith at Turning Point USA, told Fox News Digital he contacted the White House Faith Office and several administration officials over what he described as a politically motivated investigation into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

"We've reached out to the faith office, we've reached out to several members of the administration to make sure that they're aware of this," Miles said. "We're hoping to see some response and action soon."

UK LAWMAKER WARNS IT’S ‘OPEN SEASON’ ON CHRISTIANS AS HE SOUNDS ALARM OVER ‘TWO-TIER JUSTICE’

The controversy intensified during an Oct. 16 parliamentary hearing examining allegations of coordinated political activity by church members during Australia's 2025 federal election.

Independent MP Monique Ryan questioned the church's global leader, Bruce Hales, about whether members considered him an "elect vessel" or a direct messenger from God. She also asked whether members sought his guidance on marriage, housing, pets, clothing and facial hair.

Liberal MP Ben Small objected to the questioning, calling it "patently ridiculous" and "so far off the terms of reference for this inquiry."

Another lawmaker interjected that hairstyles had no bearing on electoral matters, while the committee chair allowed the questioning to continue.

"When an Australian parliamentary committee tasked with investigating election matters begins interrogating a Christian leader about his theological convictions, serious questions must be asked about the purpose of the inquiry," Miles said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

"Bruce Hales was summoned to answer questions about electoral conduct, not to defend the doctrines of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church before the government," he added.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: THE WAR ON CHRISTIANS IS REAL AND THE WORLD CAN NO LONGER STAY SILENT

Miles argued that the line of questioning may illustrate a broader threat to religious freedom.

"The troubling shift from election oversight to religious scrutiny gives every appearance of a politically motivated witch hunt," he said.

Hales denied directing, funding or coordinating political campaigning during the 2025 election, maintaining that church members acted independently.

"I had no involvement whatsoever in relation to any members who volunteered or took part in any aspect of the 2025 federal election," Hales told the committee.

Lawmakers questioned whether a sermon in which Hales said Australia needed to be "happy again, smiling again" influenced members' political activities, citing subsequent campaign messaging that echoed his words.

His son, Gareth, acknowledged encouraging people already involved in campaigning but denied directing an organized church campaign.

CHRISTIAN WOMAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO NEW 'ORWELLIAN' CHARGES FOR STANDING AND SILENT PRAYER

The committee is also examining allegations of intimidation and coordinated campaigning during the election. Church leaders have denied organizing or condoning improper conduct.

Hales said he did not support harassment or intimidation and maintained that individual members should be accountable for their own actions.

"In a free society, government has every right to investigate violations of election law, but it has no business putting Christian doctrine on trial," Miles said.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which traces its roots back roughly 200 years, says its roughly 55,000 members worldwide follow a "Doctrine of Separation," distancing themselves from certain secular activities and practices they believe conflict with biblical teachings.

The church rejects descriptions of the denomination as a cult, maintaining that its members freely practice their faith and contribute to their communities through businesses and charitable initiatives.

The hearing also turned to the United States when Sen. Steph Hodgins-May questioned Hales about Turning Point USA's support for the church and whether church leaders had met with the Trump administration.

Hales said he had never met Trump but understood that some church members in New York had briefly met the president.

Miles, who is not a member of the denomination, said he wants Trump to apply diplomatic pressure on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and urge an end to the inquiry.

"What I would like to see, first of all, is some pressure applied, whether that be through diplomatic channels or through the president himself," Miles told Fox News Digital.

Miles said he remains hopeful the administration will take action and warned that the controversy could establish a troubling precedent for American churches, pointing to past disputes involving religious organizations and government restrictions in the United States.

"If this can happen in Australia, if it can happen places like England and Canada, it certainly can happen America if we don't stay alert," he said.

Miles emphasized that Christians should be free to participate in politics without their churches automatically being held responsible for their individual choices.

"Just because individual private citizens who happen to go to a church have a similar opinion about politics, that does not constitute a grand conspiracy," he said.

He urged Trump to pursue what he called "faith-based diplomacy" to defend religious liberty abroad.

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"Religious liberty means nothing if it only protects those whose beliefs the government approves of," Miles said.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Christa Pike’s IV team warned vein might be ‘blowing’ before failed execution

New account from Pike’s lawyer suggests team was racked by doubts even before pentobarbital began to flow

The Tennessee execution team tasked with setting an intravenous line in the arms of the death row prisoner Christa Pike through which she could be injected with a lethal dose of pentobarbital repeatedly warned that her vein might be “blowing”, before they went ahead with the procedure, her lawyer has revealed.

Members of the intravenous (IV) team used up to 10 needles as they sought to establish a line through which Pike could be killed with a massive dose of the sedative. About 20 minutes into the attempt, they began discussing among themselves whether the prisoner’s vein “might be blowing”.

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© Photograph: J Miles Cary/Reuters

© Photograph: J Miles Cary/Reuters

© Photograph: J Miles Cary/Reuters

Dementia risk may be linked to seemingly harmless daily habit, new research suggests

22 October 2026 at 19:33

Frequent daytime napping among older adults has been linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tracked nearly 1,000 adults age 65 and older who showed no signs of memory or thinking problems when the study began in 2013.

A decade later, the researchers found that daily rest habits — like how often people nap, how long they sleep and whether they fall asleep by accident — are linked to long-term brain health.

ONE TYPE OF SLEEP LINKED TO DRAMATICALLY LOWER RISK OF DEMENTIA, PARKINSON'S AND 81 OTHER DISEASES

The study found that participants who napped frequently, defined as most days or every day, had a 48% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely or never napped.

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Whether the naps were intentional also appeared to play a role. Seniors who fell asleep unintentionally had a 39% higher risk, while shorter naps were also linked to poorer outcomes.

Napping for 30 minutes or less was linked to a 40% increased risk of dementia, even after researchers adjusted for other health factors. For naps longer than 30 minutes, the association was less pronounced after researchers accounted for nighttime sleep patterns.

The research team stressed that looking at daytime napping habits gives a much clearer picture of overall health than looking at nighttime sleep alone.

THIS ONE QUESTION MAY REVEAL WHETHER YOUR BODY IS GETTING THE REST IT NEEDS, STUDY FINDS

"Our study highlights the importance of looking beyond just how long people nap and considering other napping characteristics, such as how frequently they nap and whether their naps are intentional," study authors Adam Spira, Ph.D., a professor at the Bloomberg School, and postdoctoral fellow Kening Jiang, Ph.D., told Fox News Digital.

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"This study provides important longitudinal evidence that frequent and unintentional daytime napping were associated with a higher risk of developing dementia among older adults."

The findings held true even after accounting for nighttime sleep length, daytime drowsiness and indicators of sleep apnea.

"Nighttime sleep and daytime napping are closely related," Spira and Jiang went on. "Daytime napping may compensate for poor nighttime sleep, but it may also reduce the drive to sleep at night, potentially contributing to nighttime sleep disturbances, another important potential risk factor for dementia."

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Researchers pointed out that daytime resting does not necessarily cause brain changes. Rather, changing nap habits could be an early warning sign of underlying changes in the brain.

Brain regions that help regulate wakefulness can start to break down in the early stages of dementia, leading to more frequent daytime fatigue, they noted.

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To double-check this, the team re-analyzed the data after removing anyone who developed dementia during the first five years.

The link between frequent, accidental naps and dementia remained just as strong, suggesting that changes in napping habits can show up years before a formal diagnosis.

The researchers emphasized that this was an observational study with limitations.

"We did not directly intervene on participants’ napping behaviors to examine whether changing these behaviors would affect their dementia risk," Spira and Jiang told Fox News Digital.

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"Although we don’t know whether napping causes dementia, our study findings suggest that daytime napping patterns may be useful indicators of future dementia risk," they added.

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The findings suggest that daytime napping patterns in older adults may be worth monitoring, particularly when naps become frequent or happen unintentionally, according to the researchers.

Data broker opt-out: How retirees can protect their data

22 October 2026 at 19:30

Your home address, phone number and relatives' names may be sitting on people-search websites you've never visited. Anyone who finds those listings could learn more about you than you're comfortable sharing. A data broker opt-out can help reduce that exposure, especially during retirement, when protecting your finances, family and home becomes a priority.

And a tragic case in Minnesota shows why publicly available personal information deserves a closer look. Here's what happened in Minnesota and the steps you can take to make your personal information harder to find online.

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WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME

Minnesota attacks expose a troubling privacy risk

In June 2025, Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were murdered in a targeted attack. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were seriously injured in a separate shooting. Investigators discovered notebooks containing the names of public officials and a handwritten list of 11 people-search websites in the suspect's vehicle. The list included TruePeopleSearch, Spokeo, Pipl, PeopleFinders, BeenVerified, Whitepages, TruthFinder, Intelius, Ownerly, USSearch and PeopleLooker. The notes described which services were free and what information someone could find through them.

However, the discovery alone did not establish whether the websites supplied the victims' addresses. On June 11, Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the murders, shootings and stalking of the victims. He was sentenced on July 23 to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in federal prison. Separate state charges remain pending. The case raised an unsettling question: How easily could someone find your home address and information about your family?

What data brokers know about you

Data brokers collect information from public records, online activity, commercial databases and other sources. They then combine those details into profiles that businesses and individuals may be able to purchase or access. Some companies specialize in marketing information. Others operate people-search websites that make personal details available through free searches or paid reports.

Depending on the company and the available records, those profiles may include:

  • Your current and previous home addresses
  • Phone numbers and email addresses
  • Age, birth date and marital status
  • Names of relatives and possible associates
  • Property ownership and estimated home values
  • Employment and education history
  • Purchasing interests and other consumer information
  • Financial, health-related or political inferences

Not every broker collects or sells all this information. Credit reporting agencies also operate under different legal requirements than many people-search services. Still, these records can reveal details you never intended to share with strangers. For a closer look at how criminals assemble this information, read our CyberGuy report on how scammers build a profile on you using data brokers.

Want to see how much of your personal information may already be exposed? Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

Why exposed personal information is risky for retirees

Scammers can use publicly available details to make their stories more convincing. As a result, a suspicious call or message may sound surprisingly personal.

Here are some of the potential risks.

  • Financial scams: Someone who knows your age, address and family relationships may use those details to impersonate a financial institution, government agency or relative. That familiarity can make a fraudulent request sound credible.
  • Home and personal safety: People-search listings may expose where you live, where you previously lived and who lives nearby. This can be particularly concerning for people dealing with stalking, harassment or threats.
  • Medicare and healthcare fraud: A scammer who knows your name, age or location could use those details to make a fake Medicare call or insurance offer seem legitimate. Never provide your Medicare number to an unexpected caller.
  • Family impersonation scams: Criminals may use relatives' names and personal details to create convincing emergency stories. They might claim someone you love needs money immediately.
  • Spam calls and unwanted messages: Data brokers and marketing lists can contribute to unwanted contact. However, removing your information will not eliminate every robocall, spam text or phishing email.

Even if you've never experienced one of these problems, reducing the amount of personal information available online can make it harder for someone to research you.

THE SECRET LIST THAT TELLS SCAMMERS YOU'RE AN EASY TARGET

How to opt out of data brokers yourself

You can request removal from many people-search websites for free. However, each company may have different requirements, and removing a listing doesn't always prevent it from returning.

Here's how to get started.

  • Search for yourself online. Look up your full name, city, current address and phone number. Check major people-search websites for matching listings. Avoid paying for reports unless you have a specific reason.
  • Save the website addresses. Keep a record of the pages exposing your information so you can return to them later.
  • Find each site's removal instructions. Look for links labeled "Opt Out," "Remove My Information" or "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information." You can also check the site's privacy policy.
  • Submit your removal request. Follow the company's instructions. Some sites require you to verify your identity or confirm that the record belongs to you. Share only the information necessary to complete the request.
  • Complete any verification steps. Check your email for confirmation links or follow-up instructions. A request may remain incomplete until you finish the process.
  • Consider search-result removal. If sensitive information appears in Google search results, you may qualify to request its removal. Keep in mind that removing a search result does not erase the information from the original website.
  • Check again periodically. Brokers may refresh their records, and previously removed details can reappear. Revisit the sites and submit new requests when necessary.

A new privacy shortcut for California residents

If you live in California, you now have another option. The state's free Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) at privacy.ca.gov/drop/ launched in January 2026. It allows eligible residents to submit one deletion request to more than 600 registered data brokers. Beginning August 1, 2026, covered data brokers were required to start processing those requests. The system also requires recurring checks for matching information, although legal exceptions apply and removal is not immediate. Other states have their own privacy laws and removal rights, so your options may depend on where you live.

How a data removal service can help protect your personal information

If manually contacting dozens of websites sounds exhausting, a data removal service can handle much of the work for you. These services help identify data brokers and people-search websites that may have your information. They can also submit removal requests on your behalf and follow up when necessary.

Depending on the provider and subscription plan, available features may include:

  • Automated removal requests: Services contact covered data brokers and people-search websites to request deletion of your personal information.
  • Recurring removals: Some providers periodically repeat requests and check whether previously removed information has reappeared.
  • Progress reports: You can track removal requests and review updates about which companies have responded.
  • Multiple personal details: Certain services let you submit current and previous addresses, email addresses and phone numbers to help identify matching records.
  • Custom removals: Some providers allow you to submit additional website links for review and possible removal assistance.

To get started, choose a reputable data removal service, create an account and provide the information needed to identify your records. You'll typically need to authorize the service to submit removal requests on your behalf. Some providers also offer family plans that cover multiple household members.

Before subscribing, compare the websites each service covers, its removal process, ongoing monitoring features and subscription costs.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

What a data removal service cannot do

Even with automated removal, some personal information may remain publicly accessible. Property ownership records, government databases and certain court records can continue displaying details about you. Data removal services generally cannot force government agencies to delete legally available public records.

Additionally, not every website must honor a removal request. Some services offer custom removals, but legal restrictions and technical limitations can prevent certain information from being deleted.

Removing data broker listings also cannot undo previous data breaches or guarantee that scammers will stop contacting you.

Still, reducing the number of websites exposing your information can make it harder for strangers to find personal details. For retirees, that added privacy can help reduce exposure to targeted scams and unwanted contact.

Kurt's key takeaways

What concerns me most is how much someone can learn about you without ever meeting you. Your address, family connections and personal history can give scammers information they can use to gain your trust. And once that information starts circulating, controlling where it goes becomes difficult. That's why I recommend taking a proactive approach. Start by finding out what's publicly available, remove what you can and keep checking. If the process becomes overwhelming, a reputable data removal service can help with the ongoing work. You may never erase every trace of yourself from the internet, but you can make your personal information harder to find.

Have you ever searched your name on a people-search website and been surprised by how much information was available? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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