Google agrees to delete Chrome Incognito browsing data in lawsuit settlement

Google has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit dating back to 2020, agreeing to delete data collected from users who utilized the Chrome browser's Incognito mode, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The lawsuit alleged that Google misled users regarding the data gathered while browsing in Incognito or private mode, tracking their website usage without their explicit consent. Despite the "private" label associated with Incognito mode, Google continued to collect data, including websites visited, without clear disclosure to users.

To address the concerns raised in the lawsuit, Google has committed to erasing "billions of data points" improperly collected, along with updating the language used in Incognito mode to clarify its data collection practices. Moreover, Google will disable third-party cookies by default in Incognito mode, with plans to eliminate cookies entirely later this year.