In a legal settlement resulting from a 2020 lawsuit, Google has agreed to delete billions of data records that were collected while users were browsing the internet in “Incognito” mode on Chrome.
The lawsuit accused Google of misleading users about the type of data it gathers during private browsing sessions.
The terms of the settlement were disclosed recently, revealing that Google will not only delete the data records but also update its disclosure practices to inform users about the data collected during private browsing.
Additionally, Google will allow users to block third-party cookies during private browsing for the next five years and has ceased tracking users’ choices to browse privately.
David Boies, the attorney representing the consumer plaintiffs, praised the settlement as a significant step toward holding tech companies accountable.
He highlighted the requirement for Google to delete and rectify the data it improperly collected in the past.
Google, through spokesperson José Castañeda, stated that it always believed the lawsuit was baseless and emphasized that the company never associates data with individual users during Incognito mode.
Castañeda also mentioned that while the plaintiffs initially sought $5 billion in damages, they will not receive any monetary compensation under this settlement.
However, individuals still retain the right to pursue damages through individual lawsuits.
Source-CNN
