Google has settled a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of deceptive data collection practices within its Chrome browser’s Incognito mode. As part of the agreement, Google will delete browsing records from 136 million US users.
The lawsuit argued that Chrome’s Incognito mode, designed to provide private browsing, still allowed Google to track user activity. Google has disputed these claims but agreed to the settlement to avoid a protracted legal battle.
The case concerns a class-action lawsuit filed in June 2020 against Google, targeting the inadequate disclosure of data collection practices and lack of privacy controls in Chrome’s Incognito mode.
“The Settlement also provides relief for Google’s past collection of private browsing data through data deletion and remediation. This portion of the Settlement relies on the framework developed by Special Master Douglas Brush,” reads the court filing.
“For every data source identified in the Special Master’s preservation order (Dkts. 524, 587-1) that could include private browsing data pre-dating the disclosure changes, Google must delete or remediate all entries that might contain users’ at-issue private browsing data.”
