Google has settled a class-action lawsuit, pledging to delete millions of records of users’ browsing activities linked to its Incognito mode.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused Google of surreptitiously gathering data from individuals using its Chrome web browser in Incognito mode, purportedly without their consent.
According to details revealed in a San Francisco federal court filing, Google has agreed to erase “billions” of data records associated with users’ private browsing sessions.
The settlement also mandates several changes to Google’s disclosures regarding data collection practices, particularly clarifying the visibility of user activity on websites when browsing in Incognito mode. Additionally, Google has said it will allow Incognito mode users to block third-party cookies for the next five years.
Jose Castaneda, a spokesperson for Google, noted the company’s satisfaction with the settlement, dismissing the lawsuit as “meritless.” Castaneda emphasized Google’s drive to user privacy, asserting that data collected during Incognito mode usage was never associated with individual users and would be deleted as part of the settlement.
Despite the plaintiffs’ initial demand for $5 billion in damages, the settlement does not entail monetary compensation from Google. Instead, individuals retain the option to pursue damages by filing their own complaints against the tech giant in U.S. state courts. Already, approximately 50 individuals have initiated such claims, according to plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Attorney David Boies, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the settlement as “groundbreaking,” asserting its significance in driving tech companies to be transparent about data collection and usage practices. The agreement to retroactively delete user information represents a notable concession from Google, given the centrality of user data to its advertising business.
The settlement also averted a trial that was slated for February, an important development for Google as it braces for multiple legal challenges. These include a jury trial in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the U.S. Justice Department and state attorneys general, scheduled for September.
Another lawsuit from Texas and other states, challenging Google’s ad tech practices, is set for March 2025. Additionally, a federal antitrust trial alleging Google’s monopoly in the online search market is ongoing in Washington.
The settlement points towards the ongoing debate surrounding consumer privacy and data protection in the digital space, a notable precedent for holding industry giants accountable for handling user information.
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