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, despite the supposed privacy features.
The lawsuit argued that Google’s actions violated users’ privacy and collected an extensive amount of information about their browsing habits, even when they believed they were browsing privately.
Google’s settlement, which is pending authorization by a federal judge, aims to resolve the lawsuit that initially sought $5 billion in damages on behalf of the affected users.
If the settlement is not approved, a trial is scheduled for February 5th, 2024. However, lawyers representing both Google and the consumers have reached a preliminary resolution.
Class-action lawsuits have become the primary means of addressing data privacy issues with large tech companies in the absence of comprehensive privacy laws in the United States.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys initially requested at least $5,000 for each user affected by Google’s tracking practices, potentially totaling $5 billion. The complaint also highlighted the extensive amount of personal information Google had access to.
“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 closing settlement consensus to the court by February 24th, 2024.
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How did internal emails revealed during the lawsuit support the plaintiffs’ claim that Google violated users’ privacy?
Google Settles $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit Over “Incognito” Mode Tracking
In a recent development, Google has agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of deceiving its users by tracking their online activities while they were using the “incognito” mode on the Google Chrome browser. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, argued that Google’s incognito mode gave users a false sense of privacy, leading to the legal action.
Internal emails revealed during the lawsuit demonstrated that Google was indeed tracking users in incognito mode to measure web traffic and sell advertisements, despite the supposed privacy features. This revelation supported the plaintiffs’ claim that Google’s actions violated users’ privacy by collecting an extensive amount of information about their browsing habits, even when they believed they were browsing privately.
To resolve the lawsuit, Google has reached a settlement with the affected users. The settlement is pending authorization by a federal judge and aims to resolve the claims initially seeking $5 billion in damages. If approved, it will provide compensation to the users impacted by Google’s tracking practices.
However, in the event that the settlement is not approved, a trial is scheduled for February 5th, 2024. Nonetheless, both Google and the consumers’ legal representatives have reached a preliminary resolution, indicating progress towards reaching an agreement.
Class-action lawsuits have become the primary means of addressing data privacy issues with large tech companies in the absence of comprehensive privacy laws in the United States. In this particular case, the plaintiffs’ attorneys initially requested a minimum of $5,000 for each user affected by Google’s tracking practices, potentially totaling $5 billion. The complaint also stressed the vast amount of personal information that Google had access to, describing Google as ”an unaccountable trove of information so detailed and expansive that George Orwell could never have dreamed of.”
The plaintiffs’ attorneys aim to present a closing settlement consensus to the court by February 24th, 2024. This settlement will mark an important step in holding tech companies accountable for their privacy practices while also highlighting the need for comprehensive privacy laws to protect users’ rights.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a reminder for users to be aware of their online privacy and to stay informed about how their data is being collected and used. Privacy settings and options provided by internet services should be regularly reviewed to ensure that users are making informed decisions about their privacy.
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