Google Settles $5 Billion Lawsuit Over Chrome Incognito Mode Tracking

Google has agreed to settle a 2020 class action lawsuit that accused the company of tracking Chrome users even when they were using the browser’s Incognito mode. This mode is designed to not save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms, but it turns out Google is still able to track users using this mode.

As reported by The Washington Post, the lawsuit’s plaintiffs cited internal emails between Google executives to prove that Google was purposely monitoring what Chrome users in Incognito mode did to analyze web traffic and sell ads. The plaintiffs alleged that Google had various ways to track Chrome users in Incognito mode, including its Analytics technology, cookies, and apps.

Back in August, a US judge rejected Google’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit. However, the company immediately disputed the plaintiff’s claims regarding Chrome’s Incognito mode. “As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity during your session,” a company spokesperson told Reuters at the time.

The lawsuit sought at least $5 billion in damages, but the settlement terms were not disclosed. However, Google and the plaintiffs are expected to present a formal settlement for court approval by the end of February.