Last year, three users filed a lawsuit against Google, for persisting with their data tracking systems, even through the ingnito mode of browsers.
Initially, Google tried to have this judicial initiative dismissed, but the verdict was adverse. Today, the lawsuit is ongoing.
Unknown does not mean invisible
With that phrase, Google defined in a previous court filing the ingnito mode of its browser. Today, they face a similar situation, as reported Bloomberg.
Google will have to face a class action lawsuit filed by users who claim that the popular search engine collects personal data from its users through Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager, plus other applications and website add-ons, including through the browser’s ingnito mode, either through desktop or mobile browsers.
Despite attempts by Alphabet, on behalf of its subsidiary Google, to get the case dismissed, Lucy Koh, a district judge in California, United States, declared the lawsuit admissible.
Formally, this accusation dates from June of last year. As reported by Reuters, users accuse Google of taking advantage of these browsing modes to illegally invade the privacy of millions of users by widely tracking their internet usage and they are seeking at least $ 5 billion in compensation.
The scope of this situation is not limited to the use of incognito mode in Chrome, depending on the demand, as it would also contemplate private browsing in Safari and other browsers.
The judge’s decision is based on the company did not notify users that Google participates in the alleged data collection while the user is in private browsing mode, according to what is declared in its ruling.
The lawsuit states that Google knows who your friends are, what your hobbies are, what you like to eat, what movies you watch, where and when you like to shop, what are your favorite vacation destinations, what is your favorite color and even the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things. you surf the Internet, regardless of whether you follow Google’s advice to keep your activities ‘private’.
Google’s response boils down to that they will try to defend themselves with all possible means. Through a statement, Jos Castaeda, company spokesman, specified that Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the option to browse the Internet without your activity being saved on your browser or device. As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, it is possible that websites may collect information about your browsing activity during your session..
In a move that will affect the future of digital marketing, Google revealed earlier this year that it is working on a new system to delete cookies third party tracking. Among these projects, it is not planned to replace cookies with something that ends up being equally invasive.
The purpose behind the collection of this data is justified in the elaboration of a profile with your preferences and habits, to offer advertising and a personalized user experience. If for the purpose of all this, you are interested in knowing how much information Google knows about you, we recommend that you review our video guide.
