Google has agreed to either destroy or anonymize billions of records of web browsing data collected from users using “Incognito” private browsing mode as part of a proposed class action settlement filed on Monday. The settlement, valued at $5 billion, was calculated by assessing the value of the data that Google will have to destroy and the data it will be restricted from collecting in the future. If approved by a federal judge in California, the settlement could impact 136 million Google users.
The lawsuit, Brown v. Google, was initiated by Google account holders who alleged that the company was illegally tracking their behavior through the private browsing feature. The proposed settlement signifies real accountability and transparency from the largest data collector in the world, highlighting a crucial step towards improving and upholding privacy rights on the internet.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed that the company is pleased to resolve the lawsuit, which they have deemed baseless. Despite estimating a settlement value of $5 billion, Castañeda clarified that they will not receive any damages. The settlement does not provide damages to the class but allows individuals to file claims for damages if they can prove that they suffered harm as a result of Google’s actions.
As part of the settlement, Google has agreed to make changes in how it discloses limitations of its private browsing services and will allow users to block third-party cookies by default in Incognito mode for five years. This change prevents tracking on external sites while in private browsing mode, giving users more control over their online privacy. Users can still file damages claims under California state court law under the settlement terms; 50 requests have already been submitted.
Overall, this proposed settlement marks a significant step forward towards protecting user privacy rights online and holding companies like Google accountable for their data collection practices.
