Roman GłogulskiSeveral weeks ago, a settlement was reached between Google and users who filed a lawsuit against the company concerning the unclear status of Incognito Mode in the Chrome browser. The dispute revolved around data collection by the browser in this mode, despite assurances of high privacy protection. As a result of the settlement, the wording of the warning message displayed when activating Incognito Mode in Google Chrome Canary has been changed to soften the privacy claims.
What did the settlement between Google and users involve?
The settlement, which was reached earlier this year, addressed a conflict that had been ongoing for three years. Google argued that users knowingly agreed to certain data collection even after activating Incognito Mode. However, these arguments did not convince the court, leading to the settlement. One of the effects of this agreement is the change in the wording of the warning message for Incognito Mode. Currently, the changes are only available in the beta version of the Google Chrome Canary browser, but they are expected to be introduced in the standard release soon.
What has changed in the warning message?
The new warning message states: “Other users of this device won’t see your activity, but the websites you visit and any network data you consume can still collect data. Files you download, bookmarks, and items in ‘Reading List’ will be saved.” This change clarifies the status of Incognito Mode. Previous wording may have been misunderstood as suggesting complete anonymity, whereas the new content informs users that certain data is still collected by Google even in Incognito Mode. The new warning will soon be introduced into the standard version of the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Does Incognito Mode in Google Chrome provide complete privacy protection?
No, Incognito Mode in Google Chrome does not provide complete privacy protection. While this mode prevents other users of the same device from seeing your activity, Google still collects certain data such as downloaded files, bookmarks, and items in the “Reading List.”
Will the settlement between Google and users affect Incognito Mode?
Yes, the settlement has affected the wording of the warnings displayed after activating Incognito Mode. The new warning message specifies that although Incognito Mode allows for more private browsing, data is still collected by websites and services utilizing those sites, including Google.
Does the settlement mean that Google will stop collecting data in Incognito Mode?
No, the settlement does not mean that Google will stop collecting data in Incognito Mode. The settlement focused on changing the wording of the warning message and providing clear information to users that certain data is still collected by Google in Incognito Mode.
Source: MSPowerUser, Tom’s Hardware
