Google changed the description of incognito mode after a class-action lawsuit by users.
Google agreed to pay $5 billion. as part of the settlement of a lawsuit on illegal tracking of user actions in Incognito mode in the Chrome browser. In this regard, the company has updated the description of the "Incognito" mode, now it reflects information about data collection practices that have not yet been mentioned. The updated text was detected in the latest Canary build of Google Chrome version 122.0.6251.0, according to the MSPoweruser portal.
In 2020, a $5 billion class-action lawsuit was filed against Google for collecting user data through the corporation's Incognito services. Google defended its position, claiming that in the "Incognito" mode, data is already collected on sites, but this was not indicated in the description of the mode itself.
Comparison of the current (left) and updated (right) Incognito descriptions
The new version of the text states: "Other users of this device will not see your activity, so you can view the pages more privately. This will not affect the collection of data by the websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks, and reading list items will be saved."
The previous version said: "Your actions in incognito mode will not be available to other users of this device. However, bookmarks, downloaded files, and objects from the read list will still be saved."
A Google representative claims that the changes in the description give even more information to users about Incognito mode. He added that the "Incognito" mode prevents storing information about user actions on their device.
Google has previously cited the description of Incognito mode as proof that the company informs users about possible tracking methods even in Incognito mode. However, the court did not accept this argument, rejecting Google's request for a decision without trial. In December, Google and the plaintiffs agreed to a settlement. The terms of the settlement will be submitted to the court in January, with final approval by the end of February.
Google agreed to pay $5 billion. as part of the settlement of a lawsuit on illegal tracking of user actions in Incognito mode in the Chrome browser. In this regard, the company has updated the description of the "Incognito" mode, now it reflects information about data collection practices that have not yet been mentioned. The updated text was detected in the latest Canary build of Google Chrome version 122.0.6251.0, according to the MSPoweruser portal.
In 2020, a $5 billion class-action lawsuit was filed against Google for collecting user data through the corporation's Incognito services. Google defended its position, claiming that in the "Incognito" mode, data is already collected on sites, but this was not indicated in the description of the mode itself.
Comparison of the current (left) and updated (right) Incognito descriptions
The new version of the text states: "Other users of this device will not see your activity, so you can view the pages more privately. This will not affect the collection of data by the websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, bookmarks, and reading list items will be saved."
The previous version said: "Your actions in incognito mode will not be available to other users of this device. However, bookmarks, downloaded files, and objects from the read list will still be saved."
A Google representative claims that the changes in the description give even more information to users about Incognito mode. He added that the "Incognito" mode prevents storing information about user actions on their device.
Google has previously cited the description of Incognito mode as proof that the company informs users about possible tracking methods even in Incognito mode. However, the court did not accept this argument, rejecting Google's request for a decision without trial. In December, Google and the plaintiffs agreed to a settlement. The terms of the settlement will be submitted to the court in January, with final approval by the end of February.
