#GOOGLE CHROME INCOGNITO LAWSUIT FULL#

Google, was brought forward by three people, Chasom Brown, William Byatt, and Maria Nguyen, who claim Google tracks browsing data “no matter what safeguards” are put in place by the user. Now, a judge in California has approved a lawsuit that claims Google isn’t being open about tracking that still takes place while users browse in the mode. Google Chrome’s Incognito mode is the most recent service to come under fire for potentially-deceptive practices. So it’s going to be interesting to see where the case ends up now.Data collection has been a hot-button topic for the past year now, and companies are looking to clarify what data it is keeping on users, as well as providing methods for staying “off the grid.” Last year, we heard about how the Judge failed to immediately dismiss the case as Google’s justification that it allowed people to consent to the behavior was not strong enough. That data would further go on to be utilized for steps like digital fingerprinting which many call out as uber controversial as it's solely based on data gained from user devices. And that would allow the firm to withhold IP Addresses alongside information linked to devices and browsers. Here is where they alleged how their visits to webpages were analyzed by Google Analytics and its Ad Manager. This particular dispute in question actually dates back to the year 2020 in June, when a few residents from California and Florida filed a complaint against the company related to incognito mode.

#GOOGLE CHROME INCOGNITO LAWSUIT FULL#

On this basis, the company revealed how awarding such claims as class certification is just not accurate, urging the judge and a respective jury to evaluate on a personal basis if users even understand the full workings of incognito mode or not and if they said yes to their data being collected or not. In addition, they claim that users well consented to the behavior as well. However, the majority are well aware and well-informed of what’s going on. Meanwhile, the search engine giant does acknowledge the fact that some users are definitely confused as could be the case with the ones filing the lawsuit. Google’s Incognito mode allows web users to carry out their browsing activity without having those types of information stored on their smart devices. On that basis, these allegations can’t be deemed true. Google’s surveys have constantly proven over time that users do realize what the incognito mode is, how it functions, and what it is capable of doing.

In addition to the above statement that was a part of legal papers filed by the company on Friday, the tech giant continued to speak about how there is a huge variability factor in terms of audiences involved and how they comprehend certain internet terminologies and technologies in today’s time. Google was seen arguing about how it wasn’t responsible for the fact that a selected few Chrome users were confused about what Incognito meant as the majority of others were well aware of how some form of data would soon be collected through the secretive mode of browsing online. In the lawsuit filed, the respective Chrome users claim Google failed to properly explain and disclose how the Incognito settings would collect their data in terms of their online browsing activity on the web. The legal documents allege the search engine giant of making the most of its Incognito mode by collecting user data, without them realizing it.įor this reason, the tech company has urged a judge from the Federal court to intervene and refuse the admission of granting the lawsuit a class action status.īut Chrome users are also not backing down against their allegations as they feel Google’s behavior is in clear violation of the state laws linked to user privacy observed in California. Google is fighting back against a lawsuit that has been put forward by Chrome users last year.

Google chrome incognito lawsuit