Outbrain Opt Out Guide

Outbrain recommendations can create privacy risk if your name, address, or phone number becomes connected to what you read or click. The site generally relies on signals from public pages and commercial sources, then displays recommendations or ads based on online identifiers and browsing activity. Turning off personalization helps limit how Outbrain may process your personal data across partner placements. 

How to opt out of Outbrain

Open the official privacy page, go to the Interest Profile, choose “My Data Rights,” and select the opt-out option. If you submit a rights request, processing usually takes 7–30 days. 

Checklist:

• Open the official privacy page
• Go to the Interest Profile
• Choose “My Data Rights”
• Select the opt-out option
• Save the confirmation
• Set a reminder to re-opt-out

Outbrain – Quick Facts

Parameter	Value
Domain	outbrain.com (Interest Profile at dsr.outbrain.com)
Data Types	online identifiers (UUID), IP address (masked), device/browser info, pages visited, clicks, interest categories
Opt-out Methods	Interest Profile toggle/opt out cookie/device settings/industry choice pages
Identity Verification	on-page confirmation; some requests may need details to confirm identity
Typical Response Time	7–30 days (varies by request and region)
Re-listing Risk	medium

Outbrain is operating under the Teads brand following the merger of Outbrain and Teads. When you visit a website or application of one partner, Outbrain technology is implemented to serve recommendations; some items are paid for by an advertiser, and the link leads to another page, including a page on the same partner’s site. Find the privacy policy relevant to sensitive information and understand visitors’ privacy expectations. 

Common data you may find:

• UUID and other online identifiers
• IP Address (masked)
• Device type, browser type, operating system
• Pages visited and time of visit
• Referring URLs
• Clicks on recommendations
• Nroad location data
• Interest categories and segments

Step-by-Step Guide

Open the privacy policy

Start at the privacy center and open the user privacy policy. It explains Outbrain’s legacy technology and how information can be considered personal data if Outbrain links it to a UUID, including personal data if Outbrain associates it with a user profile. On partner sites, you may see text referencing Outbrain and an AdChoices icon. This helps you know you are interacting with Outbrain. When saving screenshots for your records, blur/redact personal info before sharing.

Choose “My Data Rights”

In the Interest Profile, choose “My Data Rights.” The page allows you to exercise your privacy rights, including the right to request access, deletion, or restrictions under state privacy laws. It may reference the United States consumer privacy notice. To access the data Outbrain holds for your browser, use the download feature and store the file securely. If you want to contact Outbrain, use the email listed in the policy and include enough detail to process your personal data request.

Choose the opt-out option

If you click on the AdChoices logo, you’ll be directed to the Teads user policy. Choose the opt-out option you want: opt out of Outbrain personalization, opt out of the sale, or opt out of personalized tracking. You may also opt for a privacy control signal, but you may still see Outbrain. Your request may rely on an opt-out cookie, so if you clear Outbrain cookies, you may need to opt in again. In addition to your request, industry tools may apply to other advertising companies.

Confirm deletion

To delete, use “Delete My Outbrain Profile” and follow the prompts. This supports your right to request erasure and helps you exercise your privacy rights without posting extra details publicly. After confirmation, you may no longer receive recommendations from Outbrain on that browser/device. If you interact with Outbrain via a destination that is subject to that advertiser’s privacy policies, review the destination’s privacy policies too.

Track confirmation & timeline

Keep a dated record of what you submitted and any confirmation screen or message. Outbrain has in place safeguards for transfers, including the data privacy framework, and will process your personal data under the terms of this privacy policy. If nothing changes after 30 days, contact Outbrain and resubmit once, and keep the latest proof. If you change browsers/devices, repeat the same steps; Outbrain cookie settings can differ per browser/device.

Timelines, Verification & What to Expect

Most settings can apply quickly to the current browser/device. However, rights requests may take 7–30 days, depending on the region and request type. Confirmation usually appears on-page, and some flows may ask for details to verify identity or residency before they process your personal data. If you do not see confirmation, revisit the page where the widget appeared. If there is no response, resubmit once using the same form. 

Edge Cases & Troubleshooting

• No access to the original email/phone: use the same browser/device; user interacting with Outbrain on a different browser may not see the same controls.
• “Record not found”: revisit the sites on which the Outbrain widget appeared, then try again.
• CAPTCHA or submission errors: refresh, try another browser, and disable strict blockers for the form only.
• Verification code not arriving: wait, check Spam, then resend once.
• Region limits (EU/UK/CA): some rights flows differ; use the relevant notices and privacy policies.
• Account vs recommendation settings: Outbrain is an ad/recommendation tool, not a public listing service.
• If you clear cookies delivered through the Outbrain tools: need to opt again and save the new confirmation.
• Email marketing: use the unsubscribe link; if needed, cancel by emailing support.

Will my data reappear?

Some settings can reset because the opt-out cookie is browser/device-specific, and clearing cookies delivered through the Outbrain system can undo preferences. Partner sites where the Outbrain widget runs can change over time across websites in the Outbrain network. Certain Outbrain advertisers or publishers can adjust campaigns. Publishers may implement the Outbrain widget differently. To reduce repeats, set a 3–6 month reminder, keep confirmation records, and re-submit quickly if needed. 

Manual vs Assisted Removal

Manual:

Assisted:

FAQ