Google chose: will delete user data illicitly collected through incognito mode to put an end to a major class action initiated against it in 2020. The decision came yesterday, after the company had already chosen to settle. The prosecution had sued the Mountain View company because, as it later emerged, it had the habit of tracking users' data without their knowledge when they used private browsing.
According to what was stated by the prosecution lawyers, in particular, the company led by Sundar Pichai it would not have explained with due clarity what data it would track when this navigation mode was in operation.
To remedy this situation, Google has made it known that it will undertake to delete the data collected so far, to offer the possibility of block third-party cookies, in order to avoid unwanted tracking, and implement measures aimed at making the use made of the collected data clearer. Furthermore, users who participated in the class action will have the opportunity to request compensation for the damages suffered.
The option of a plea bargain was in the air last year December, but now it seems a certainty. The final word will be up to the competent judge, who will rule next July, in California.
Meanwhile, Google also expressed itself through its spokesperson José Castañeda, who stated that “the company is pleased to resolve this lawsuit“, as long as he believes it “baseless“.
How Google Chrome incognito browsing works
At the center of this class action is the incognito mode, a feature that allows users to browse the Internet without having their data tracked. According to what emerged, however, the data of many users was actually collected without their knowledge. So, how does this mode work? And how can you ensure that your data is not being collected against your will?
First of all, now, thanks to this class action, every time you use incognito browsing, the function that prevents the collection of third-party cookies will be active by defaultso that sites cannot monitor user activity on the web.
Furthermore, Google has included a message when opening private mode, explaining which information it will track and which it will not. In particular, it will not save the browsing historyi cookies and site data (if the function already mentioned is active) and the information entered in the forms. Conversely, managers of websites you visit, your employer, an educational institution, or an Internet service provider may still have access to some data.
To activate incognito mode, simply go to the Google menu by pressing on three points located at the top right of the screen, and press “new incognito mode window“. For more information on this, you can consult html” data-ga4-click-event-target=”internal”>this article on the topic.