15 March 2021

"Incognito" or Not? Browsing in Private / Data Protection Tracking

You thought you were e.g..well HELLO! Wake up Chrome's Incognito Mode: What Is It Good For? - BetterCloud Monitor
From The Medium 06.06.2020

Google Sued for $5 Billion For Tracking Users Even in Incognito Mode | GarimaShares

In a recent reveal, it was found out that Google Chrome’s incognito mode isn’t incognito in any way.
What is an incognito mode?
In Google Chrome’s incognito mode, any searches you make don’t show up in your history. But, sigh, Google still stores them.
It prevents websites from tracking you using cookies. Your browsing history doesn’t get stored and local data of the session is removed. . .
 
Google Sued for $5 Billion For Tracking Users Even in Incognito Mode |  GarimaShares | by Garima Bhaskar | GarimaShares | Medium
Class-action lawsuit filed against Google on June 2
Google used tracking tools like Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager, including smartphone apps-to collect user data.
“Google tracks and collects consumer browsing history and other web activity data no matter what safeguards consumers undertake to protect their data privacy,” states the complaint.
The tech giant learns about hobbies, shopping habits, and the private searches that users make on the incognito browser.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three people-Chasom Brown and Maria Nguyen, and William Byatt-in California, and while Google has faced several other lawsuits over its data collection, this one tries to use the Federal Wiretap Act.
The Act states that users have the right to sue if their private conversations are intercepted.
The lawsuit says that Google’s practices deceived consumers into believing that they maintain control of the information shared with the company.
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More from The Verge on Saturday 03.13.2021

Judge rules Google has to face lawsuit that claims it tracks users even in Incognito mode

The plaintiffs allege Google collects personal data even if users put privacy controls in place

"A judge in California ruled Friday that Google has to face a class action lawsuit that claims the search giant secretly collects data from users even when they’re using its private “Incognito” mode, Bloomberg reported.
Three users filed a complaint last June alleging Google has a “pervasive data tracking business,” and its tracking persists even if users take steps to protect their private information, such as using incognito mode in Chrome, or private browsing in Safari and other browsers.
The lawsuit seeks at least $5 billion.
Google had sought to have the case thrown out, but US District Judge Lucy Koh wrote in her ruling that the company “did not notify users that Google engages in the alleged data collection while the user is in private browsing mode.”
. . .Google spokesperson José Castañeda said in an email to The Verge on Saturday that the company disputes the lawsuit’s claims “and we will defend ourselves vigorously against them.” He added that Chrome’s Incognito mode gives users the choice to browse the internet without activity being saved to their browser or devices. “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.”
Google said earlier this year it is phasing out third-party tracking cookies, and says it doesn’t plan to replace the cookies with something that may be as invasive even though it will affect the company’s advertising business.

Update March 13th, 4:39PM ET: Adds statement from Google spokesperson

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