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Google, under its parent company Alphabet, has opted to settle a significant lawsuit, concluding allegations of spying on users' private data during 'Incognito' mode browsing. The class-action lawsuit accused Google of clandestinely tracking the internet activity of users who believed their browsing was private. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, the class action sought a payment of at least $5 billion, equivalent to over ₹41,000 crore.
The lawsuit asserted that Google, through methods such as Google Analytics, cookies, and apps, tracked user data without their knowledge while in Incognito mode. Incognito mode is Google's designated "private" browsing setting, which claims to prevent cookies from tracing browsing history.
The individual filing the class action contended that Google accessed his private data through Incognito mode to tailor advertisements based on his preferences. Google attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the judge rejected the dismissal. The lawsuit argued that Google's actions transformed the company into an "unaccountable trove of information," allowing it to learn about users' friends, hobbies, favourite foods, shopping habits, and potentially embarrassing online searches.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, presiding over the case in California, stated that it was uncertain whether Google had made a legally binding commitment not to collect users' data during private browsing. The judge referenced Google's privacy policy and other company statements that suggested limitations on the information it might collect.
Initially filed in 2020, the lawsuit encompassed "millions" of Google users from June 1, 2016, onwards, seeking damages of at least $5,000 per user for alleged violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws. Google's lawyers have indicated that they reached a settlement through mediation, with plans to present a formal settlement for court approval by February 24, 2024.
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