Google settles $5B privacy lawsuit over tracking users in “Incognito Mode
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
9:25 AM – Sunday, December 31, 2023
Google Settles $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Over “Incognito” Mode Tracking
A class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 accused Google of deceiving users by tracking their online activity while they were using incognito mode. The lawsuit claimed that Google’s Chrome browser’s incognito mode gave users a false sense of privacy, leading to the legal action.
Internal Google emails revealed during the lawsuit showed that the company was indeed tracking users in incognito mode to measure web traffic and sell advertisements. This contradicted the impression given to users that their browsing activity was not being recorded.
The lawsuit argued that Google’s tracking mechanisms and advertising strategies continued to collect information about users’ site visits and activities, even when they were supposedly browsing privately. This violated users’ expectations of privacy and exposed their personal information.
Google has reached a settlement in the case, which is awaiting authorization from a federal judge. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but the initial lawsuit sought $5 billion in damages on behalf of the affected users.
If the settlement had not been reached, a trial was scheduled for February 5th, 2024. However, lawyers representing both Google and the consumers announced a preliminary resolution before the trial date.
Class-action lawsuits have become the primary means of addressing data privacy issues with large tech companies in the absence of comprehensive laws governing personal data use in the United States.
The judge overseeing the case noted that “millions of individuals” may have been impacted by Google’s tracking practices.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys initially requested at least $5,000 for each user whose activity was tracked by Google Analytics or Ad Manager services, even when they were not logged into their Google account or using private browsing mode. This would amount to at least $5 billion in total.
The complaint against Google also highlighted the company’s extensive collection of personal information, stating that it had become an “unaccountable trove of information” that surpassed even George Orwell’s imagination.
“Google has made itself an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed of,” the complaint added.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys expect to present a final settlement agreement to the court by February 24th, 2024.
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What was the initial requested amount of damages sought in the lawsuit, and what is the timeline for presenting the final settlement agreement to the court
Google Settles $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Over “Incognito” Mode Tracking
In a landmark development, Google has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of deceiving users by tracking their online activity while they were using the “incognito” mode on the company’s Chrome browser. The lawsuit argued that Google’s tracking mechanisms and advertising strategies violated users’ expectations of privacy and exposed their personal information.
The case, filed in 2020, alleged that Google’s incognito mode gave users a false sense of privacy, leading to the legal action. Internal Google emails revealed during the lawsuit demonstrated that the company was indeed tracking users in incognito mode to measure web traffic and sell advertisements, contradicting the impression given to users that their browsing activity was not being recorded.
The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, awaiting authorization from a federal judge. However, the initial lawsuit sought $5 billion in damages on behalf of the affected users. If the settlement had not been reached, a trial was scheduled for February 5th, 2024, but both Google and the consumers’ legal representatives announced a preliminary resolution before the trial date.
Data privacy issues with large tech companies, such as Google, are often addressed through class-action lawsuits due to the absence of comprehensive laws governing personal data use in the United States. The case against Google highlighted the extensive collection of personal information by the company, referring to it as an “unaccountable trove of information” that surpassed even George Orwell’s imagination.
The presiding judge acknowledged that “millions of individuals” may have been impacted by Google’s tracking practices. The plaintiffs’ attorneys initially requested at least $5,000 for each user whose activity was tracked by Google Analytics or Ad Manager services, regardless of whether they were logged into their Google account or using private browsing mode. This would amount to at least $5 billion in total.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys intend to present a final settlement agreement to the court by February 24th, 2024. This settlement marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over data privacy and the responsibilities of technology companies. Stay informed about this and other important news by subscribing to our breaking news blasts, delivered directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here to stay updated on the latest developments.
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