macOS Node.js tool using Playwright automates monthly opt-outs across 500+ data broker sites with CAPTCHA solving via CapSolver and persistent state tracking.
Key Takeaways
Covers 30+ brokers with custom selectors (Spokeo, WhitePages, BeenVerified, Acxiom, LexisNexis, ZoomInfo) plus ~470 more via The Markup and BADBOOL datasets.
generic-runner.js tries four strategies per unknown site: DNSMPI button, OneTrust/TrustArc manager, generic form fill, DSAR link recording.
State tracked in state.json with a 90-day re-check window; completed opt-outs are skipped until brokers typically re-add data.
CapSolver CAPTCHA solving costs ~$0.001/solve; $1-2 of credits covers months of runs. Optional but required for full automation.
Author positions this alongside paid services (Incogni, Optery) for covering gaps like Acxiom, LexisNexis, Clearbit that subscriptions miss.
Hacker News Comment Review
The macOS-only constraint is soft: launchd and Messages.app are the only Mac-specific dependencies, making Docker or systemd ports straightforward per commenters.
Commenters noted CAPTCHAs are trivially bypassed by services like CapSolver, reinforcing that CAPTCHAs primarily burden legitimate users, not automated opt-out runners.
No discussion of broker coverage accuracy or whether submitted opt-outs are honored long-term.
Notable Comments
@airstrike: “I’m the only one being inconvenienced by the same old captchas” – sharp observation on CAPTCHA futility.
@IgorPartola: Wants Docker support to avoid macOS requirement entirely.
