Google to Destroy “Billions of Data Records” in Settlement Over Web-Tracking Practices

Google has agreed to destroy “billions of data records” of peoples’ private browsing history as part of a settlement disclosed on Monday over the company’s web-tracking practices. This settlement comes after a class-action lawsuit revealed that Google continued to track users’ browsing activity even when they were using the supposedly private “incognito” mode in its Chrome browser.

For years, Google had been collecting data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, without informing users about the extent of the data being harvested. The lawsuit alleged that Google used this data to measure web traffic and sell ads, leading to concerns about privacy and data protection.

As part of the settlement, Google will now have to inform users about the limitations of incognito mode, including the fact that the company itself can track browsing activity during this mode. Additionally, Google will block third-party companies from tracking users’ cookies while they are using incognito mode, enhancing privacy protections for users.

While class members will not receive monetary damages as part of the settlement, individual users will have the option to sue Google in California state court to recover money over the covert data tracking. Google spokesperson José Castañeda stated that the company is “happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.”

This settlement comes as Google faces other legal challenges, including lawsuits brought by the Justice Department over online search monopolization and antitrust actions related to its advertising business. The agreement, which avoids a lengthy and costly trial, still needs final approval from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.