Under the terms of the settlement, Google will update its disclosures regarding data collection during private browsing sessions, a process already underway. Additionally, it will allow Incognito mode users to block third-party cookies for the next five years
Google has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the tech giant of secretly tracking the internet activity of users who believed they were browsing privately. The settlement terms, filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, are subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
The lawsuit, which dates back to 2020, involved millions of Google users who used private browsing settings since June 1, 2016. The plaintiffs alleged that Google’s analytics, cookies, and apps allowed the company to improperly track individuals who used Chrome’s “Incognito” mode or other browsers’ “private” browsing modes.
According to the plaintiffs, this practice turned Google into a repository of personal information, ranging from users’ social connections to their most intimate online searches.
Under the terms of the settlement, Google will update its disclosures regarding data collection during private browsing sessions, a process already underway. Additionally, it will allow Incognito mode users to block third-party cookies for the next five years.
In response to the settlement, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated that the company was pleased to resolve the lawsuit, which it had consistently viewed as lacking merit. Castaneda reiterated Google’s stance that data collected during Incognito mode sessions is not associated with individual users and is not used for personalization.
David Boies, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the settlement as a significant step toward holding technology companies accountable. A preliminary settlement had been reached in December, thereby avoiding a scheduled trial in February 2024. However, the terms of the settlement were not disclosed at that time. Plaintiffs’ lawyers intend to later seek unspecified legal fees from Google.
