Google settles privacy lawsuit
Google, the world’s go-to search engine and a subsidiary of Alphabet, has agreed to settle a US lawsuit that accused it of invading users’ privacy by tracking their online activity even when browsing in "private mode", BBC News reports. The class action, which sought at least $5bn (£3.9bn), was filed by law firm Boies Schiller Flexner in 2020.
The lawsuit claimed that Google had tracked users’ activity even when they set their browsers to “Incognito” mode or other private browsing modes. It argued that this practice turned Google into an “unaccountable trove of information” on user preferences and "potentially embarrassing things".
Role of incognito mode
Google’s Incognito mode within its Chrome browser allows users to search the internet without their activity being saved to the browser or device. However, the websites visited can still use tools such as Google Analytics to track usage.
Google defended its practices, stating that it had been upfront about the data it collected when users viewed in private mode. The tech giant argued that the collection of search history, even in private viewing mode, helped site owners "better evaluate the performance of their content, products, marketing and more".
Legal proceedings
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers put a scheduled trial for the case on hold after lawyers said they had reached a preliminary settlement. Earlier this year, Judge Rogers had rejected Google’s bid to have the case dismissed, stating that she could not agree that users consented to Google collecting information on their browsing activity.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. However, lawyers are expected to present a formal settlement for the court’s approval by February 2024.
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