Google Agrees to Erase Users' 'Incognito' Browsing Data in Lawsuit Settlement Deal

Google has agreed to erase millions of its users' browsing data as part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed against Google claiming it tracked people without their knowledge.

The case, which was filed in 2020, alleged that Google, under its parent company Alphabet Inc., secretly collected data from its users using the "incognito browsing mode" available on the Chrome web browser. Supposedly, this feature allows users to turn off data collection when using the Chrome browser. Still, other Google tools, such as advertising technology bypass this and collect user data without their knowledge.

In a follow-up statement that was made public on Monday in a filing at the San Francisco federal court, Google stated that it will permanently delete billions of data records showing people's private browsing and make changes to its disclosures to clarify how people’s data is collected as well as what activity is visible to websites when users browse in "incognito" mode.

Presently, the plaintiffs are asking for $5 billion in damages, but this settlement made by Google will not include any form of financial compensation. Individuals can instead pursue damages and compensation amounts by filing their complaints against Google in U.S. state courts. So far, 50 people have already done so, according to lawyers involved in the matter.