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

Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit regarding its alleged tracking of users’ internet activity while they believed they were browsing privately. The agreement includes deleting billions of data records. The terms of the agreement were submitted in Oakland, California federal court and await approval from US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

of Reuters news agency Report According to the , the lawsuit, launched in 2020, pertains to millions of Google users who used private browsing since June 1, 2016. The petitioners argued that Google’s analytics, cookies, and apps allowed it to track people who activated private browsing modes like Chrome’s “Incognito.” They argued that this helped Google accumulate large 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 that is already underway. In addition, 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 emphasized that the company never shares data with individual users in Incognito mode and expressed satisfaction with the settlement, calling the lawsuit futile.

David Boies, representing the petitioner, called the settlement an important step toward holding tech giants accountable.