April 2, 2024 By Pierluigi Paganini
Google is going to delete data records related to the ‘Incognito Mode’ browsing activity to settle a class action lawsuit.
Google has agreed to delete billions of data records related to users’ browsing activities in ‘Incognito Mode’ to settle a class action lawsuit. The class action, filed in 2020 by law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, accuses the company of collecting user browsing data without their knowledge or explicit consent. The class action alleges that the IT giant deceived users, leading them to believe their online activities would not be tracked in incognito mode.
“Google has anticipated that consumers are understandably concerned that Google is tracking their personal information and browsing history. To assuage them, Google promises consumers that they can “browse the web privately” and stay in “control of what information [users] share with Google.” To prevent information from being shared with Google, Google recommends that its consumers need only launch a browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox in “private browsing mode.” Both statements are untrue.” reads a class action. “When users undertake either—or both—of the aforementioned steps, Google continues to track, collect, and identify their browsing data in real time, in contravention of federal and state laws on wiretapping and in violation of consumers’ rights to privacy”