Hey Amigos! 😎 Big news from the digital world! Google just made a huge move that's got everyone talking.
In a landmark settlement filed on Monday in a federal court in Oakland, California, Google agreed to delete billions (yes, billions!) of data records. Why, you ask? Well, it's all about privacy and trust.
Turns out, people who thought they were browsing the internet in private mode (you know, Incognito mode in Chrome or \"private\" browsing in other browsers) were actually being tracked by Google's analytics, cookies, and apps. 😱 Users claimed that Google was secretly learning about their friends, favorite foods, shopping habits, and even the most embarrassing things they searched online. Talk about a breach of privacy!
Since June 1, 2016, millions of users have relied on private browsing to keep their online activities… well, private. But a class-action lawsuit that began in 2020 challenged Google's practices, accusing the tech giant of turning into an \"unaccountable trove of information.\"
But here's the good news! 🙌 Under the settlement terms, Google has agreed to update its disclosures about what data it collects during private browsing sessions—a process they've already started. Plus, for the next five years, Incognito users will have the power to block third-party cookies. 🍪✋
\"The result is that Google will collect less data from users' private browsing sessions and that Google will make less money from the data,\" the plaintiffs' lawyers stated. It's a win for privacy advocates everywhere!
Google's spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, mentioned they're pleased to settle, even though they always considered the lawsuit meritless. \"We never associate data with users when they use Incognito mode,\" Castaneda said. \"We are happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.\"
David Boies, the lawyer representing the users, called the settlement \"a historic step in requiring honesty and accountability from dominant technology companies.\" 💥
While Google isn't paying damages in this settlement, users may still sue the company individually for any damages they've incurred. The plaintiffs' lawyers also plan to seek legal fees from Google later on.
This settlement marks a significant shift in how big tech handles user data and privacy. It's a reminder that even digital giants need to respect our online boundaries! 🛡️
Stay safe out there, and happy browsing! 🚀
Reference(s):
Google to destroy browsing data to settle consumer privacy lawsuit
cgtn.com
