Google has recently reaffirmed its commitment to deleting users' data while browsing in incognito mode.
This pledge came as part of a class action lawsuit in which the search giant was accused of violating California privacy laws by collecting incognito mode data.
Incognito mode is a feature available in most browsers that allows users to conduct searches without compromising their privacy. As part of the settlement agreement, Google has agreed to either destroy or rectify billions of Chrome incognito mode data records.
In addition to the settlement, the technology giant will be required to disclose how it collects customers' data without their consent. Furthermore, over the next five years, Google is anticipated to block third-party cookies automatically.
Google Happy With the Settlement
A representative for Google, José Castañeda, expressed satisfaction with the case's resolution.
He called the lawsuit baseless, noting that the plaintiffs did not merit the substantial sum they sought, an astounding $5 billion in damages.
The confidential agreement for the incognito lawsuit indicates that the prosecutors involved will not receive any compensation.
“We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless. We are happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization,” Google Spokesperson José Castañeda said.
Nevertheless, as part of the settlement, individuals can still file a case against Google if they feel the company stole their data.
More Details About the Class Action Lawsuit
In 2020, Google faced a class action lawsuit due to its mishandling of users' data.
This issue was not unique to Google, as other Big Tech companies such as Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have also received similar lawsuits.
Big Tech's collection and sale of users' data has resulted in complaints from customers. Managing this data is crucial for the continuity of tech companies, as it is used for targeted advertising.
Tech giants are often guilty of aggressive data collection, which can lead to class action lawsuits against them. This poses a serious threat to user privacy, as cybercriminals can exploit these breaches to gain access to sensitive data.
Consequently, the US government is increasing its scrutiny of social media apps in the country.
TikTok particularly has come under particular scrutiny and may even be banned in the United States.
There are concerns about the Chinese government's possible use of TikTok, a video social media platform, to steal customers' data or spread misinformation.
TikTok is a Chinese-owned social media app with 150 million American users. This has raised concerns among US lawmakers, who have passed a bill requiring the sale of TikTok to a US company.