California DROP Act compliance for data brokers
The August 1, 2026 deadline passed. Every registered data broker must now process consumer deletion requests through the DROP platform every 45 days — or face $200 per request, per day in penalties.
What the DROP Act requires from your brokerage
The California Delete Act (SB 362) created the DROP platform. Every registered data broker must comply. Here is what it requires — and how Compliance Copilot helps.
45-Day DROP Cycle Pull
Every 45 days, download the hashed identifier list from the DROP platform. Consumers who registered during that window must be identified and processed.
How we help: We automate the DROP API pull every 45 days. Cron-based, no manual work. Logs every pull with timestamp for audit.
Identifier Hashing & Matching
DROP provides hashed identifiers (phone, email, name, DOB). Brokers must standardize their own data, hash it, and match against the DROP list.
How we help: Our hashing engine standardizes and matches per CPPA specs. Upload your customer CSV and we do the rest.
Multi-System Deletion Cascade
Deletion must propagate to data warehouses, analytics platforms, vendor systems, ad-tech destinations, and sub-processor pipelines.
How we help: Track which systems the deletion was applied to. Our audit log documents every system, every action, and every disposition.
Audit Log & Reporting
Per-request documentation: timestamp of intake, identity verification method, systems acted upon, disposition per system, proof of recurring execution.
How we help: Auto-generated audit reports for every 45-day cycle. Export-ready for CPPA audits. One-click report generation.
Everything your brokerage needs for DROP compliance
No enterprise contracts. No compliance consultants. Just the tools you need to stay compliant through every 45-day cycle.
DROP API Integration
Connect to the CPPA DROP platform with one click. We handle authentication, list pulls, and identifier downloads. No manual work.
Identifier Matching Engine
Upload your customer list. Our engine standardizes phone/email/name formats, hashes per CPPA spec, and matches against the DROP list.
Automated Audit Reports
Every deletion cycle produces a complete audit log. Export as PDF or HTML. Share with regulators or keep for your records.
Fine Calculator
Live widget showing penalties avoided by staying compliant. Strong viral hook for the brokerage owner.
Suppression List Management
Permanent block on re-selling opted-out identifiers. Unverifiable requests are still processed as opt-outs of sale/sharing.
Compliance Dashboard
Real-time view of your 45-day cycle status, requests processed, next-pull date, and penalties avoided.
DROP compliance without the enterprise price tag
Enterprise tools start at $10K/year. We do it at $29/mo because we built it for SMB data brokers, not Fortune 500.
| Feature | Compliance Copilot | Captain Compliance | DataGrail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29/mo | $449/mo | $10K+/yr |
| DROP API Integration | |||
| 45-Day Cycle Automation | |||
| Identifier Hashing Engine | Coming soon | ||
| Audit Report Export | |||
| Fine Calculator | — | — | |
| Built for SMB Brokers | Agencies | Enterprise | |
| Setup time | 15 minutes | 1-2 days | 1-2 weeks |
| Self-serve via Stripe | Sales call required |
Pricing as of July 2026. Competitor data based on publicly available sources.
The clock ran out. The penalties are real.
The DROP Act deadline passed August 1, 2026. If you are not compliant yet, here is what the enforcement timeline looks like.
DROP ACT DEADLINE
All 575+ registered data brokers must be compliant. DROP platform live and accepting consumer registrations.
Penalties Begin
$200/request/day for every unprocessed deletion request. No cure period. No grace period.
Connecticut DELETE Act
Connecticut launches its own data broker deletion platform. Similar 45-day cycle. Different API.
New York A9642 DROP
New York-equivalent DROP bill pending. Expanding the compliance universe to more brokers.
DROP Act — Frequently asked questions
I missed the August 1 deadline. What happens now?
Penalties of $200 per unprocessed request, per day, are stacking from August 1. There is no cure period. The CPPA enforcement strike force is active — Datamasters was fined $42K in January 2026. The fastest way to stop the clock is to start processing deletion requests through the DROP platform immediately. Compliance Copilot can help you catch up on backlogged requests.
I'm a small data broker. Do I really need to comply?
Yes. The DROP Act has no size exemption. If you are registered with the CPPA (575+ brokers as of July 2026), the obligations apply to you. Even unverifiable requests must be processed as opt-outs of sale/sharing. Ignoring the law does not make the penalties go away.
What happens if I don't comply?
Two things. First, financial penalties: $200/request/day. If 50 consumers submitted requests for your brokerage, that is $10,000/day in potential fines. Second, your business license could be at risk. The CPPA has an enforcement strike force and is actively fining non-compliant brokers.
Is Compliance Copilot itself DROP compliant?
Yes. We practice what we preach. Our own data handling follows the DROP Act requirements. Our compliance dashboard is public on request.
How is this different from Captain Compliance?
Captain Compliance charges $449/mo for their DROP module and targets agencies and larger brokers. Compliance Copilot is built for smaller data brokers and SMBs at $29/mo. We focus specifically on the 45-day recurring DROP cycle rather than bundling with consent management, cookie scanning, and other features you may not need.
What if I also operate in other states with similar laws?
Connecticut launches its DELETE Act in October 2026, and New York has a DROP-equivalent bill pending. Compliance Copilot is designed to support multiple jurisdictions. The same identifier matching engine and audit logging works across state lines.
What's included in the $29/mo DROP compliance module?
Everything: DROP API integration, automated 45-day cycle pulls, identifier hashing and matching engine, audit log with export, suppression list management, fine calculator, and compliance dashboard. It is a standalone module you can use without any other Compliance Copilot features.
Start your DROP Act compliance today
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