Google settles ‘incognito’ suit, commits to wiping user browsing data

Google is planning to delete a large amount of data from millions of users' web-browsing histories as part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit alleging the company tracked people without their knowledge.

The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused Google of not being clear about how Chrome tracks users' activity in "Incognito" mode. It claimed that Google's explanations didn't properly tell users what data was being collected, including the websites they visited. The settlement, filed in San Francisco federal court on Monday, lays out what Google will do to change its practices. It includes deleting billions of data points, updating disclosures about private browsing data collection, and giving users the choice to disable third-party cookies.

The agreement doesn't offer money to individual users, but it lets them file claims. Attorney David Boies, representing consumers, said the settlement requires Google to delete a large amount of improperly collected data.

“This settlement is an historic step in requiring honesty and accountability from dominant technology companies,” Boies said, as cited by the Wall Street Journal.

The settlement would close a big case for Google and make them delete user data, which is rare in fights against big tech companies. Chrome is key to Google's search engine, which drives its profitable ads.

Google is also dealing with lawsuits from the Justice Department, accusing it of dominating search and ad-tech markets. Google plans to challenge a recent antitrust ruling on its app store.

The settlement, reached in December, stopped a trial set for February. But it still needs approval from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California.

The lawsuit affects millions of users who used private browsing since June 2016. Originally, it sought $5,000 per user for breaking privacy laws. Internal discussions among Google bosses showed concerns about calling Incognito browsing "private" to avoid misleading users.

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Settlement changes and implementation

Google will update its disclosures about collecting private browsing data as part of the settlement. They've already started making these changes.

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For the next five years, Google must keep Incognito mode adjusted so users can block third-party cookies. Google also plans to remove tracking software from Chrome by year-end.

While the court allowed class certification for seeking injunctions, it didn't approve a class for financial damages. 

(With inputs from agencies)