Google has settled a lawsuit filed in 2020 which accused the tech giant of improperly tracking user’s web-browsing habits when using the “Incognito” private browsing mode in Chrome. As part of the settlement, Google must delete billions of data records that reflect private browsing activities. The terms of the settlement were disclosed in a filing on Monday in San Francisco federal court. Google has already started implementing changes such as updating its disclosure to inform users of the data it collects during private browsing sessions.
In addition to deleting data records, Google will allow private browsing users to block third-party cookies for the next five years as part of the settlement. The tech giant will also stop tracking people’s choices to browse the internet privately. David Boies, the attorney representing the consumer plaintiffs, stated that the settlement is a historic step in holding dominant technology companies accountable for their actions. He praised the requirement for Google to delete and remediate the data improperly collected in the past on an unprecedented scale.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed the company’s satisfaction with settling the lawsuit, which they believed was meritless. He clarified that Google does not associate data with users when using Incognito mode and is willing to delete old technical data not associated with individuals. Castañeda mentioned that the plaintiffs originally demanded $5 billion in damages but will receive none as part of the settlement. However, individuals still have the option to sue for damages separately, as stated in the terms of the settlement revealed in court filings on Monday.
Overall, the settlement between Google and the plaintiffs regarding the lawsuit accusing Google of improper tracking of private browsing activities marks a significant step towards increased transparency and accountability from dominant technology companies. The deletion of billions of data records, updates to disclosures, and the ability for private browsing users to block third-party cookies for five years are key components of the settlement. Google has already begun implementing changes and is committed to providing a more transparent browsing experience for its users. The lawsuit settlement also allows individuals to pursue damages separately if they choose to do so.
