Google is facing a $ 5 billion lawsuit over complaints that its Chrome browser is watching users, even when using “Incognito” mode.
A U.S. district court judge ruled last week that a lawsuit filed in June 2020 against Google’s Incognito detection mode could continue after Google did not drop the lawsuit.
The core of the lawsuit alleges that Google continues to track user activity when a user opts for Chrome browser Incognito mode. The lawsuit alleges that it violated federal eavesdropping laws.
Underlying the legal action is the claim that if you choose Incognito mode, the assumption is that browsing is kept private.
Google is facing a $ 5 billion lawsuit over complaints that its Chrome browser is watching users, even when using “Incognito” mode.
(Getty Images)
“We strongly oppose these allegations and we will strongly defend ourselves against them,” Google spokesman José Castañeda said in a statement to Fox News.
“Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the option to browse the web without storing your activity on your browser or device. your browsing activity during your session, ‘said Google’s Castañeda.
The lawsuit further states: ‘Google knows through its ongoing data tracking business who your friends are, what your hobbies are, what you like to eat, what movies you watch, where and when you want to shop, what your favorite holiday destinations are , which is your favorite color, and even the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things you browse the web – whether or not you follow Google’s advice to keep your activities ‘private’. ‘
Google search is done through GoogleAnalytics, Google Ad Manager and other application and website plugins such as Google mobile applications and the Google sign-in button for websites, the lawsuit states.
3 AMAZON PRIVACY SETTINGS YOU NEED TO CHANGE NOW
What Incognito Mode Really Is and Is Not:
If you choose Incognito mode on Google’s browser, none of your browsing history, cookies and site data or information entered in forms will be stored on your device, according to a Google Chrome help page covering Incognito mode.
As a result, your activity will not appear in your Chrome browser history and websites will not be able to identify you as long as you do not sign in, Google says.
The core of the lawsuit alleges that Google continues to track user activity when a user opts for Chrome browser Incognito mode.
But Google also explains what Incognito mode does not.
This will not prevent a website from identifying you when you sign up. “If you sign in to a website in Incognito mode, that website will know that you’re the one looking for it and can keep track of your activities from that moment on,” the Google help page states.
Google further explains that Incognito mode will not prevent your activity or location from being visible to the “sites you visit, your school, employer, or ISP.”
Nor can it prevent the websites you visit from displaying ads based on your activity during an Incognito session.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“What this means is that when these browsers log in to Facebook, Gmail or anywhere with a private window, these sites actually know about it,” said Daniel Markuson, digital privacy expert at NordVPN Virtual Private Networking Service Provider. told Fox News.
“And it will not protect you from being monitored by your ISP, marketers and even the government if they decide to spy on you,” Markuson said.
“We believe the question … should be about Google’s ability and willingness to provide people with tools to truly govern their privacy. With Google all around us, it’s almost impossible for anyone to figure out which Chrome browser, Google Account or Android phone privacy settings you need to tamper with [with] to reach [that] goal, “Vykintas Maknickas, NordVPN’s product strategist, told Fox News.