Google Resolves $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Regarding User Tracking in 'Incognito Mode
Google has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit, filed in June 2020, accusing the company of deceiving users who believed their internet activity remained private while using the "incognito" or "private" mode on web browsers. The lawsuit sought a minimum of $5 billion in damages, and the settlement terms have not been disclosed.
The plaintiffs claimed that Google violated federal wiretap laws by using Google Analytics to track users' activities in private mode. Despite Google's attempt to have the case dismissed by highlighting the warning displayed when users activated Chrome's incognito mode, the court ruled that users did not explicitly consent to the data collection, as Google had not informed them about it.
It's important to note that using incognito or private mode in a web browser only prevents local storage of browsing activity. However, websites employing advertising technologies and analytics APIs can still track users in incognito sessions and correlate the data, such as matching IP addresses.
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2024/01/google-settles-5-billion-privacy.html