Privacy on Change.org: What's visible, what's private, and what you control

Starting or signing a petition means you're passionate about the issue it's taking on. It's an exciting and meaningful way for regular people to participate in democracy or change something that matters to them. Sometimes those issues are difficult, sensitive, controversial, or polarizing. In those cases, starting or supporting a petition can feel like a bold act.

Petitions are meant to prove support. At their core, digital petitions work like paper ones — they record the names of the signers. Change.org also collects additional technical data. But that doesn't mean that information has to be public if you don't want it to be. Change.org has protections and restrictions in place so you can participate with confidence, even when the cause you're supporting is a sensitive one.

Change.org gives signers and starters meaningful control over what information is visible, who can see it, and how it's used. This guide explains exactly how that works so you can confidently make your support for an important cause count.

For the full, complete details on how Change.org handles user data, refer to the Privacy Policy.

What information is visible on a petition page?

Petition pages show limited signer information by default. At the top of a petition page, a ticker displays names of recent signers who’ve chosen to make them visible as they scroll through. Comments left by signers show first names and the city where they’re from only. There is no full public list of every person who has signed.

That limited display is intentional. Your support for a petition is visible enough to show momentum and encourage others to sign — without exposing a complete roster of names to anyone who visits the page.

Can I sign a petition without my name being displayed publicly?

Yes. When you sign a petition, you can uncheck the box that says "Display my name and comment on this petition." Your signature will still count toward the petition total, and you'll still receive updates if you choose — but your name will not appear in the ticker or anywhere else on the public petition page.

If you'd prefer not to use your real name at all, you can create a Change.org account using a pseudonym, initials, or a name that represents a group or organization. Change.org doesn’t require your name to match official documents, and does not verify identities. The one restriction is impersonation: creating an account under a false identity that misrepresents who you are violates Change.org's Community Guidelines.

If I sign anonymously, does the petition starter still see my information?

Yes — but only for a specific purpose. Even if you choose not to display your name publicly, your first name, last name, city, country, and the date you signed are shared with the petition starter. This is so starters can demonstrate the legitimacy of their signatures to the decision makers they are working to influence.

Your information is not shared beyond the petition starter for that purpose. If you don’t want your information shared with the petition starter at all, you can choose not to sign the petition.

What happens to the comments I leave on a petition?

Text or video comments known as Supporter Voices appear publicly on the petition page and are visible to anyone who visits — including the petition starter, other supporters, and the general public. Comments display your city and first name only, not your full name.

To leave a comment, you need to first sign the petition. If you want to remove a comment you've left, you can delete it from your account at any time by navigating to the petition under your "Signed" tab and clicking the trash icon next to your comment.

Change.org does not currently allow editing a comment after it has been posted. If you want to update what you wrote, delete the existing comment and post a new one.

Can petition starters moderate petitions and comments?

If a petition or a petition comment violates Change.org's Terms of Service or Community Guidelines, it can be reported to Change.org's team for review. 

To report a petition, log in and click the "Report a policy violation" button on the petition page, or write to help@change.org. Change.org's moderation team reviews reports and aims to act within 24 hours on working days. In the vast majority of cases, if a petition is flagged, Change.org will notify the petition starter and work with them to resolve the issue before taking action. 

If a petition is found to be in violation, it may be removed from the platform — and the starter will be notified by email. Change.org also uses AI technology to proactively identify content that may not comply with its guidelines, which is then reviewed by a moderator before any action is taken.

Both petition starters and other users can report comments directly from the petition page by clicking the "Report" button under the comment. Harassment, bullying, and trolling are examples of community violations.

Reported comments are reviewed individually by Change.org's team. If a comment is found to be in violation, action can range from removing the comment to disabling the account that posted it. Comments on a petition may also be disabled entirely if there have been significant violations.

Starters can request the comment section to be closed, and the Change.org team can support that.

When you submit a report, your identity is shared with Change.org so the team can follow up if needed — but it is not shared with the petition starter or the person who left the comment.

Can I remove my signature from a petition?

Yes. There are two ways to do this.

After you sign, Change.org sends you a confirmation email that includes a "Remove your signature" link. That link stays active for 30 days. If 30 days have passed or you can't find the email, you can contact Change.org support directly through the Help Center and request removal or write to us at help@change.org. Our support team will need you to contact them using the same email address you used to sign the petition and include the petition URL.

If you want to keep supporting a petition but remove your name from public view, you can remove your signature and sign again with the display option unchecked.

How is my information used and who else can see it?

Change.org collects the information you provide when you sign or start a petition — including your name, email address, and general location (city, state/province, country, postal code) — to operate the platform and send you updates about petitions you've signed or started.

A few specific things to know:

Petition starters can share your name and general location with the petition's decision maker. This is one of the core functions of a petition — showing an official like a city council member that real people from their community are behind the cause. If you sign a petition, you are consenting to that potential use of your information.

Your signed petitions do not appear on your public profile by default. Petitions you have started and published will appear on your profile. Petitions you have signed will not, unless you choose to make them visible.

Change.org uses data to estimate statistics about petition signers — such as voter registration or address data in the United States — and may report that data in aggregate on petition pages. This data is not used for other purposes.

Your email address may be shared with verified nonprofit organizations if you sign one of their petitions and indicate you'd like to be contacted about other ways to help. If that happens, your email is subject to that organization's own privacy policy.

For the complete details of how Change.org collects, uses, and protects your data, see the full Privacy Policy.

Can I delete my account and all of my data?

Yes. You can request deletion of your account and all data through Change.org’s Help Center. 

You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data at any time. To make a data request, contact Change.org at dpt@change.org or through the Help Center.

Can I delete my petition?

Self-service deletion isn't currently available, so if you need to take your petition down, contact Change.org support through the Help Center using the email address you used to create the petition. If your petition has five or more signatures, we recommend posting an update to your supporters letting them know before you request deletion. If you'd rather not delete permanently, you can close the petition from your dashboard instead — this stops new signatures from being added while keeping the petition page visible.

Safer launch checklist for sensitive campaigns

If a petition you start or sign touches on a difficult, controversial, or personally sensitive issue, these steps can help you manage your visibility before you go public.

For starters:

• Check your content doesn’t violate the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. Before you publish, review Change.org's Community Guidelines to make sure your petition content is within the rules. In most cases, if an issue is flagged, Change.org will reach out to work with you before taking any action — but it's worth knowing the boundaries before you launch.

• Know how to delete your petitions. Contact our support team to facilitate deleting your petition.

For signers:

• Consider your display settings. When signing, uncheck "Display my name and comment on this petition" if you'd prefer your name not appear publicly on the page.

• Think through your comment approach. Comments are public and show your first name. If you'd rather not comment, you don't have to — signing alone is enough to show your support.

• Review what starters can see. Even if your name isn't public on the petition page, the petition starter will have access to your name, general location, and the date you signed. This is used to verify signatures with decision makers.

• Know your exit options. You can remove your signature at any time using the link in your confirmation email, or by contacting support. You can also delete comments you've left at any time from your account.

• Be careful when sharing links from Change.org emails. Some may contain personalized information that could identify you if forwarded or posted publicly.

For both:

• Decide what name to use. You can sign or start a petition using a pseudonym, initials, or a group name. Choose something that represents you without exposing more than you're comfortable with.

• Know the reporting tools. If a comment on a petition crosses a line, use the "Report" button to flag it for Change.org's Trust and Safety team. You don't have to manage harassment alone.

Summary: What you control

Advocacy on your own terms

The beauty and benefits of Change.org’s open platform are that all people, anywhere in the world, with different ideas, viewpoints, and opinions can make their voice heard. It represents a wide range of advocates, not just one particular group. As one of those advocates, you have the power to decide exactly how you show up on our platform.