Google has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit over privacy concerns related to its “Incognito Mode” feature, agreeing to delete billions of browsing records. The lawsuit alleged that Google tracked users’ browsing activities without their consent while using this mode. As part of the settlement, Google will purge vast amounts of data records reflecting users’ browsing activities, including billions of event-level data records, and redact identifiable information such as IP addresses and detailed URLs.
Additionally, Google is required to block third-party cookies within Chrome’s Incognito Mode for five years and delete the X-Client-Data header field, which could potentially identify specific Chrome users. The settlement terms aim to provide broad relief to users who may have been affected by Google’s data tracking practices. These measures come amidst Google’s broader efforts to enhance user privacy, including plans to eliminate tracking cookies by default by the end of the year.
The lawsuit also revealed internal exchanges among Google employees characterizing the Incognito Mode feature as misleading and a “confusing mess.” The settlement addresses concerns raised by users and sheds light on internal discussions within Google about the transparency and accuracy of its privacy features. In addition to the settlement, Google has implemented measures in Gmail to automatically block bulk senders that do not meet its sender guidelines, aiming to reduce spam and phishing attacks.
