Google admits to having tracked Chrome browser users even in private browsing. After paying $5 billion to end related lawsuits, the firm changed the Incognito Mode warning message.
Whatever its name, private navigation Or Incognitoall browsers offer a mode where several pieces of information are not recorded by the program. History, cookies, texts entered in forms… This does not prevent the websites visited or your Internet service provider can see your web activity during this “private” session. Take the example of Chromium. If today, the vast majority of users know very well that Incognito mode is not that much, there remained a fairly vague point. Is it that Google is one of those who can record what you do? The browser doesn’t do this, but the company itself?
The issue is very serious and in 2020, it resulted in a resounding lawsuit: the plaintiffs are demanding $5 billion from Google for misleading people on this specific point. The firm tries to avoid the trial but a judge orders it to face it. Eventually, Google chose to pay the full amount requested to end the procedure. So this is a confession: yes, Google has always tracked Chrome users even in private browsing.
Google admits to tracking Chrome users in private browsing and makes it clearer
No question of change anything in Incognito mode However. Google will simply clarify the message explaining what this function is. Currently, when you enable it, you see the phrase “You can now browse privately. Other users of this device will not see your activity. However, downloads, favorites and playlist items are saved.
The new message hasn’t appeared with us yet, but translated from English it says: “Other users of this device will not see your activity, so you can browse more privately. This will not change how data is collected by the websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. Downloads, favorites and playlist items are saved”. This formulation was seen on the version 122 of Chrome in beta. It shouldn’t take long for it to appear all over the world.