Google agreed to settle a $5 billion lawsuit alleging that it tracked Chrome users’ activities even while in Incognito mode in 2020. After an attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed, the company agreed to settle the complaint, which initially demanded $5 billion in damages. The details of the settlement, to be submitted for court approval, have not yet been shared with the public.
The plaintiffs claimed that it used tools like its Analytics product, applications, and browser extensions to track users. They alleged that the company misled users into believing they could control the information shared about themselves while in Incognito mode. A Google spokesperson stated that Incognito mode does not record a user’s activity on their device but noted that websites could collect user information during a session.
The plaintiffs presented internal emails among Google executives, claiming to prove that the company tracked Incognito browser usage to monitor advertising sales and web traffic. The complaint accused Google of violating federal wiretapping and California privacy laws, demanding up to $5,000 per affected user. It was suggested that millions of people who have used Incognito since 2016 were likely affected, explaining the large compensation amount sought from the company. Google is believed to have agreed to a settlement amount lower than $5 billion, but details have not been disclosed, and an official statement from the company to Engadget is awaited.
Source: https://www.cioupdate.com.tr/haberler/gizlilik-ihlalleri-googlea-5-milyar-dolara-mal-olabilir/
