What is the Case? Google has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit (Brown v. Google) regarding its “Incognito Mode.” The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, accused the tech giant of tracking users’ activity even when they were browsing privately. The plaintiffs argued that Google created a false sense of privacy, misleading millions of users into believing their data was not being collected.
The Settlement Details While the lawsuit originally sought $5 billion in damages, the final settlement focuses on data privacy rather than a direct cash payout to every user.
- Data Deletion: Google must destroy billions of data records reflecting the private browsing history of users collected before December 2023.
- Disclosure Updates: Google has updated the wording on its Incognito splash screen to clearly state that it collects data even in private mode.
- Third-Party Cookies: For the next five years, Google must block third-party cookies by default in Incognito Mode.
Why This Matters This is a historic victory for digital privacy rights. It forces Big Tech companies to be transparent about data collection. While users won’t receive a check in the mail, the deletion of improperly collected private data is valued at over $5 billion. This case sets a major legal precedent: “Incognito” must actually mean private.
Looking for Cash Settlements?
Don’t miss out on money you are owed. Check out these active payouts:
- đź”— Anthem Insurance Settlement: If your data was involved in the Anthem breach, you may be eligible for credit monitoring or cash.
- đź”— 3M Earplugs Payout Update: 3M has committed over $6 billion to settle claims from veterans regarding hearing loss.
- ⚖️ Official Documentation: View the formal legal details of the Google case.
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