Google has reached a settlement to resolve a $5 billion privacy lawsuit that claimed the company spied on users who tracked their internet activity using the “incognito” mode in its Chrome browser and comparable “private” modes in other browsers.
Google allegedly deceived customers into thinking that it wouldn’t track their online activity when they were using incognito mode, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020. It maintained that even when users were ostensibly using “private” browsing, Google’s advertising technologies and other strategies were nevertheless cataloging information about their site visits and activity.
Additionally, the plaintiffs claimed that Google’s actions produced an “uncountable trove of information” about people who believed they had adopted privacy-protecting measures.
A federal court is still required to approve the settlement, which was struck on Thursday. The lawsuit initially asked for $5 billion on behalf of customers; the terms were not disclosed. The plaintiffs’ attorneys stated they planned to submit a final settlement agreement to the court by February 24.
When asked for a statement regarding the settlement, Google did not answer right away.
