Google Settles Privacy Lawsuit by Agreeing to Purge Incognito Mode Browsing Data All Details

Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit regarding the alleged tracking of users’ Internet activity even when it believed they were browsing privately. The settlement involves the deletion of billions of data records. The terms of the settlement were submitted in Oakland, California federal court and are awaiting approval from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

news agency reuters Report The lawsuit, launched in 2020, concerns millions of Google users who used private browsing since June 1, 2016, according to Google. The petitioner argued that Google’s analytics, cookies and apps allowed it to track people who had activated private browsing modes like Chrome’s “Incognito.” They argued that this helped Google collect vast amounts of personal information, including details about their social connections, interests and online searches.

Under the terms of the agreement, Google will update its disclosures regarding data collection during private browsing sessions, a process already underway. Additionally, Incognito mode users will be given the option to block third-party cookies for a period of five years.

While Google will not pay any damages as part of the settlement, individuals will retain the right to take legal action against the company for damages on an individual basis. Google spokesman Jose Castaneda stressed that the company never shares data with individual users in incognito mode and expressed satisfaction with the settlement, calling the lawsuit frivolous.

David Boice, representing the petitioner, called the settlement an important step towards holding tech giants accountable.