Google has vowed to delete billions of records of incognito browsing activity after a class-action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
In December 2023, the tech giant decided to settle a lawsuit that claimed Google was collecting user data from the private mode available in the Chrome browser. The Brown v. Google lawsuit was filed in 2020 by Google account holders, accusing the company of “secret tracking” of user data, and claiming that Google is a “common source for governments, private parties, or criminals they wish to undermine.” We are offering ‘one-stop shopping.’ Personal privacy, safety, or freedom. ” The submitted documents read as follows:
Google tracks and collects consumers’ browsing history and other web activity data, regardless of what safeguards consumers may take to protect their data privacy. In fact, even if a Google user launches her web browser with “private browsing mode” enabled (as Google recommends for users who want to browse her web privately), Google will not be able to access the user’s browsing data and other Track your identity.
Documents reveal that Facebook was secretly examining user data from Snapchat, Amazon, and YouTube
Under the proposed settlement, Google will delete billions of data records, increase transparency about the data it collects, and let users know what data is collected every time Incognito Mode is activated. He announced that he would let him know. These are already implemented and Chrome’s private browser will display the latest information. Over the next five years, Google will further block third-party cookies as part of the settlement.
Credit: Screenshot: Google
The plaintiffs sought $5 billion in damages, but the settlement does not allow for any payment from Google. Alternatively, individual users may seek damages by filing a complaint against Google in U.S. state court. 50 people are already pursuing this.
Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda said in a statement to CNN: “We are pleased to have settled this lawsuit, which we have long believed to be without merit. “Never. We will gladly delete old technical data.” It has never been associated with an individual or used for any form of personalization. ”
Consumer attorney David Boies added in a statement that the settlement is “an historic step in demanding honesty and accountability from dominant technology companies.”
