【eroticism and creativity】

Google has promised to delete billions of records of browsing activity in its Incognito mode,eroticism and creativity after a class action lawsuit filed at a California federal court.

In December 2023, the tech giant decided to settle the case, which claimed that Google collects user data from the private mode available on the Chrome browser. The case, Brown v Google, was filed in 2020 by Google account holders who accused the company of "surreptitious tracking" of user data, and declared Google "'one stop shopping' for any government, private, or criminal actor who wants to undermine individuals’ privacy, security, or freedom." The filing read:

Google tracks and collects consumer browsing history and other web activity data no matter what safeguards consumers undertake to protect their data privacy. Indeed, even when Google users launch a web browser with "private browsing mode" activated (as Google recommends to users wishing to browse the web privately), Google nevertheless tracks the users’ browsing data and other identifying information.

SEE ALSO: Facebook secretly looked at Snapchat, Amazon, and YouTube user data, documents reveal

Under the settlement, Google said it will delete billions of data records and also provide greater transparency of the data it collects, letting users know what data is collected each time "incognito mode" is launched. These have already been implemented, with Chrome's private browser displaying updated information. For the next five years, Google will additionally block third-party cookies as a part of the settlement.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

---

You May Also Like

---

---

Credit: Screenshot: Google

The plaintiffs asked for $5 billion in damages, but the settlement holds no payment from Google. Individual users can instead pursue damages by filing their own complaints against Google in U.S. state courts. 50 people have already pursued this.

José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement to CNN, "We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless. We never associate data with users when they use incognito mode. We are happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization."

---

Related Stories

---

• Israel reportedly using facial recognition and Google Photos to conduct mass surveillance in Gaza
• Apple, Google, and Meta are being investigated by the EU under new Big Tech regulation
• Users get a taste of Google's AI search results, unprompted
• Google is training an AI to play video games — why this could be problematic
• Google announces new Chrome features that trigger your FOMO

The attorney representing consumers, David Boies, added in a statement that the settlement is "a historic step in requiring honesty and accountability from dominant technology companies".

Topics Google

• Shopping
• Digital Culture
• Entertainment
• Science
• Games
• Deals
• Social Good
• Tech

• NYT Connections hints and answers for February 1: Tips to solve 'Connections' #601.
• Unmanned patrol robot
• ByteDance recruits Alibaba's large model leader amid dispute · TechNode
• TSMC considers overseas 2nm production after 2025 · TechNode
• Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks 2025 livestream: Watch NBA online
• Baidu reports Q3 revenue dip, AI Cloud growth remains strong · TechNode
• China’s Xpeng Motors unveils hybrid EV system and AI chipset · TechNode
• Huawei exec announces Mate 70 series launch for November 26 · TechNode
• NYT Connections hints and answers for February 5: Tips to solve 'Connections' #605.
• Xiaomi unveils new logo for sub

• First look at Samsung's sleek Galaxy Watch Active
• Facebook update for Android gives more control over location settings
• 5 most savage quotes from damning report on the 'digital gangsters' at Facebook
• Samsung Galaxy S10 5G: Everything you need to know
• Neptune's smallest moon Hippocamp may have been created by comets
• You probably spend more on subscriptions than you realize
• Ariana Grande snags record last held by The Beatles with top 3 hits
• Qualcomm's new X55 5G modem will make 5G phones a reality in 2019
• Jussie Smollett has been arrested for filing a false police report
• Gwyneth Paltrow to say bye to Pepper Potts after 'Avengers: Endgame'

• We'll always, er, sorta, have the Paris Climate Agreement
• NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaims Greater Bay Area’s tech edge at HKUST ceremony · TechNode
• Chinese startup releases solid
• Huawei ramps up Mate 70 series production for November launch: report · TechNode
• Report: Match Group dating apps conceal assault cases
• JD.com reports 5.1% revenue growth in Q3 2024 · TechNode
• China’s CATL seeks battery recycling site in Europe · TechNode
• Chinese YouTube star Li Ziqi returns to social media after 3
• Trump says he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris, but, um, well...
• China’s Zeekr and Lynk & Co chase 1 million annual sales target after merger · TechNode

• Optogenetics: A Virtual Reality System for Controlling Living Cells
• Baidu to Launch AI
• Chinese YouTube star Li Ziqi returns to social media after 3
• Amazon Global Store launches official flagship on JD.com ahead of Black Friday · TechNode
• 9 Tech Products That Were Too Early to Market
• Alibaba group reports steady growth in Q2 2024, as net income soars 63% · TechNode
• Tencent's mobile game Monster Hunter: Outlanders opens pre
• ByteDance recruits Alibaba's large model leader amid dispute · TechNode
• Will Oracle take over TikTok? Trump says he'll make a decision in 30 days
• Chinese flying car startup completes first low