KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Google agreed to delete “billions” of data records from people browsing the web collected in “Incognito” mode as part of a settlement for a class-action lawsuit alleging it tracked users in private browsing.
- The lawsuit, filed in 2020, represents millions of Google users who had used private browsing from June 2016 through Dec. 2023.
- Although the plaintiffs sought $5 billion, the settlement involves no direct payments from Google but individuals can still sue for damages.
Google said it would delete “billions” of data records as part of a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged it tracked people browsing the web without their knowledge.
The class action, filed in 2020, accused Google of misleading users about how Chrome tracked the activity of anyone who used the private “Incognito” browsing option.
“Upon approval of this Settlement, Google must delete and/or remediate billions of data records that reflect class members’ private browsing activities,” according to a San Francisco federal court filing made public Monday.
The lawsuit was filed in June 2020, and represented millions of Google users who had used private browsing from June 2016 through Dec. 2023.
The plaintiffs had asked for $5 billion in damages, but the settlement wouldn’t include a payment from Google. Individuals are free to pursue damages by filing their own complaints against Google in U.S. state courts, the filing said, and 50 people have already done so.
Shares of Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) were 1% lower about an hour before the opening bell Tuesday.