Google has agreed to delete a significant amount of browsing data from millions of users as part of a settlement for a class action lawsuit filed in 2020. The settlement details, disclosed in San Francisco federal court, reveal that Google will remove “billions of data points” collected while users were browsing in Incognito mode on Chrome, addressing allegations of improper data collection.
The lawsuit accused Google of misleading Chrome users about the extent of tracking while in Incognito mode, specifically regarding the data types collected, including website viewing details. As part of the settlement, Google has committed to updating its disclosures regarding data collection in Incognito mode and allowing users to disable third-party cookies. Additionally, blocking third-party cookies will be the default setting in Incognito mode for at least the next five years.
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Although the settlement does not include damages for individual users, it allows them to file claims, with 50 already filed in California state court by plaintiff attorneys. Google maintains that the data in question was not linked to individuals or used for personalization, dismissing the lawsuit as “meritless” and referring to it as “old technical data” that it is happy to delete.
Internal communications revealed during the lawsuit’s discovery phase, including messages from Google’s Chief Marketing Officer Lorraine Twohill, highlighted concerns about labelling Incognito mode as “private” due to potential user misconceptions. The preliminary settlement was reached in late December and awaits final approval from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California.
