Google reaches incognito mode settlement in consumer privacy lawsuit [Video]

Google will delete billions of data records to settle a class action lawsuit that accuses the company of secretly tracking internet users who thought they were browsing privately. 

In documents filed in federal court in Oakland, California on Monday, Google reached a settlement with plaintiffs who alleged the Alphabet-owned company’s analytics, cookies and apps let it improperly track users in its private browsing, or “incognito” mode. Google spokesman Joe Castaneda said the lawsuit was meritless, and that Google was pleased to reach the settlement.

“We never associate data with users when they use Incognito mode,” Castaneda told Reuters. “We are happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.”

Lawyers for the plaintiffs valued the accord at more than $5 billion, and as high as $7.8 billion. Google is paying no damages, but users may sue the company individually for damages.

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