Google Settles $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Over 'Incognito Mode' Tracking

According to sources, Google Settles $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Over 'Incognito Mode' Tracking.

According to the lawsuit, people who used the "incognito" mode in its Chrome browser were allegedly spied on by Google.

A $5 billion (€4.5 billion) privacy lawsuit accusing the tech multinational of collecting personal data even when users were in "private browsing mode" has been agreed upon for settlement by Google.

What is "incognito mode"?

Users can browse privately using Incognito mode, ensuring that others who use the same device won't observe their activity.

According to Google, Chrome asserts that the following information will not be saved:

• browsing history
• Cookies and site data
• Information entered in forms

While incognito doesn't promise complete anonymity, your activity could still be visible to:

• The websites you visit
• Your employer or school
• Your internet service provider

Case Details

The users were led to believe by Google, according to the class-action lawsuit, that their internet activities wouldn't be tracked while using the private mode.

According to the allegation, when a user visited a website using Google's technologies, the company persisted in tracking their site visits and activities, even while in "private" browsing mode.

The settlement, which was reached on Thursday, is still subject to approval by a federal judge. While the terms were not disclosed, the initial lawsuit sought $5 billion on behalf of users. Plaintiffs' lawyers anticipate submitting the final settlement agreement to the court by Feb. 24.

There was no immediate response from Google regarding a request for comment on the settlement.