Inside Daily Brief: “Google has agreed to settle a $5B lawsuit alleging it tracked users’ activity in “incognito” mode in its Chrome browser and similar private modes in other browsers. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, accused Google of misleading users about their privacy and continuing to collect data despite using private browsing.

• The class-action lawsuit claimed Google misled users into believing their internet activities wouldn’t be tracked in incognito mode.
• Despite “private” browsing, Google’s advertising technologies and other methods still cataloged users’ site visits and activities.
• Plaintiffs described Google’s actions as creating an “unaccountable trove of information” on users expecting privacy.
• Still requiring federal judge approval, the settlement was reached on Thursday [December 28, 2023], with terms not yet disclosed.
• The lawsuit initially sought $5B on behalf of users, with a final settlement agreement expected by Feb. 24.
• In August, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected Google’s bid to dismiss the lawsuit.
• Tech companies, including Apple and Microsoft, have emphasized privacy as a key feature of their products.
• In January, U.S. District Judge James Donato will address remedies in Google’s ongoing legal battles, including antitrust cases, after a jury found Google’s Android app store and in-app billing system maintained an illegal monopoly.”