Google settles lawsuit over alleged privacy violations in 'incognito mode'

Google, the giant tech company, has reportedly agreed to settle a major lawsuit. The lawsuit accused the company of tracking private data of countless individuals in the “incognito mode,” which is a privacy feature that doesn’t save information about the browsing activity of users.

This trial was initially scheduled for February 5, 2024, but was put on hold after Google and the consumer plaintiffs announced an initial agreement to settle. The lawsuit initially sought damages of no less than $5 billion.

Other details of the settlement remain under wraps. However, both parties have confirmed reaching a binding agreement through mediation. Lawyers are likely to present a formal settlement for court approval by February 24, 2024.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that Google's use of analytics, cookies and various apps enabled the company to track user activities. This tracking occurred even when users opted for 'Incognito' mode in Google Chrome or 'private' browsing in other browsers.