Google Pays $5 Billion to End ‘private mode’ Tracking Lawsuit

A landmark settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of breaching user privacy by tracking activity in “private mode” browsing modes. 

This decision, announced on Thursday, marks a significant victory for consumers and underscores the intensifying scrutiny directed toward Big Tech’s data collection practices, reads BBC report.

Unmasking the Unaccountable Trove

The lawsuit, filed in 2020, alleged that Google surreptitiously tracked user activity even when browsing in “Incognito” mode on Chrome and similar “private” modes on other browsers. 

According to the plaintiffs, this covert data gathering transformed Google into an “unaccountable trove of information” on user preferences and potentially sensitive online behavior. 

The lawsuit further argued that Google’s practices constituted an egregious violation of user privacy, demanding immediate cessation.

In its defense, Google maintained that it had been transparent about the data it collected during private browsing, even if many users held different expectations. 

The company argued that collecting search history, even in private mode, enabled website owners to “better evaluate the performance of their content, products, marketing and more.” 

This rationale, however, failed to convince Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who rejected Google’s bid to dismiss the case earlier this year, declaring reasonable doubt regarding user consent for such data collection.

A Costly Concession and Future Implications

The specific terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, but its mere existence represents a significant concession by Google. 

The $700 million settlement announced earlier this month in an antitrust lawsuit regarding the Play Store further amplifies the company’s financial pressure due to growing concerns about its market dominance and data collection practices.

This settlement holds wider implications beyond the financial ramifications for Google.