Google finally agreed to a settlement in the case where it was sued for ``Chrome's incognito browsing collects personal information''

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Google and its parent company Alphabet, claiming that Chrome, a web browser developed by Google, collects users' personal information even during incognito browsing . It has been revealed that Google has finally agreed to a settlement in this lawsuit.

Google settles $5 billion consumer privacy lawsuit | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-settles-5-billion-consumer-privacy-lawsuit-2023-12-28/

In June 2020, we filed a lawsuit alleging that Google's Chrome is collecting users' personal information even while using incognito browsing (privacy mode). The plaintiffs claim that Chrome's incognito window violates the U.S. wiretapping law and the California Privacy Act, and are seeking damages of $5 billion (approximately 700 billion yen).

Class action lawsuit seeking approximately 540 billion yen in damages against Google, plaintiff claims that ``Google collects personal information even when browsing in privacy mode'' - GIGAZINE

Later, in August 2023, Google sought summary judgment , but the court rejected this. In response to this result, Google said, ``Incognito Browsing in Chrome lets you browse the Internet without your activity being saved on your browser or device, but as we specify each time you open a new incognito tab, 'Sites may be able to collect information about your browsing activity during a session,' he said, disputing the ruling.

Court rejects Google's request for summary judgment to refute claims that it collects user information even in privacy mode - GIGAZINE

Additionally, Google and the plaintiff's attorney announced that they have reached a tentative settlement. In response, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, who was in charge of the trial, also announced that the trial of the class action lawsuit scheduled for February 5, 2024 has been put on hold.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs were demanding $5 billion in damages from Google, but the terms of this settlement were not disclosed. However, the lawyers in charge have explained that they plan to reach a binding terms and conditions through mediation and present a formal settlement proposal for court approval by February 24, 2024.

Reuters has asked Google and the plaintiff's lawyer for comment on this settlement, but as of the time of writing, no response has been received.