In January of this year, Google updated the disclaimer for its Incognito mode in Chrome. This update came after a class action lawsuit was filed against the company in 2020 by users who claimed that the private browsing mode did not provide the level of privacy it should have. The lawsuit alleged that user activity was still tracked even when Incognito mode was activated, with the collection of device data and IP addresses.
In December 2020, Google reached an agreement with the complainants and updated its disclaimer to clarify that websites visited in Incognito mode could collect data and track online activity. As part of this agreement, Google has committed to deleting “billions” of improperly collected browsing data in Incognito mode. Additionally, Google has pledged to block third-party cookies by default in its browser for the next five years.
These updates and agreements aim to address concerns raised by users regarding the privacy and confidentiality of their browsing data while using Chrome’s Incognito mode. By taking these steps, Google demonstrates a commitment to transparency and data protection for its users moving forward.
