In a recent update, Alphabet’s tech giant, Google, has taken a significant step toward resolving a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of providing false information to users regarding their privacy while using the private browsing Incognito mode on its Chrome web browser.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, sought a substantial $5 billion in damages. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, legal representatives anticipate presenting a formal agreement for court approval by February 24, 2024.
After nearly four years of legal proceedings, Google is now closer to reaching a final settlement with the plaintiffs, as detailed in a joint filing submitted to Northern District of California Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
The recent settlement comes in the wake of a federal court ruling that rejected Google’s attempt to exclude significant evidence. The court ruling also dismissed Google’s request to omit evidence related to other legal actions and regulations not directly relevant to this case. Back in August, Judge Rogers had denied Google’s request for a summary judgment.
The lawsuit, spanning from 2020, represented millions of Google users since June 1, 2016. These users sought a minimum of $5,000 in damages per individual, alleging violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws. The claim argued that Google’s analytics, cookies, and applications allowed the company to track users even when they believed they were in “Incognito” mode.
Both Google and the legal representatives for the plaintiffs were not immediately available for comment on the recent development.
This settlement marks a significant development in the long-standing legal battle, bringing Google one step closer to resolving allegations related to privacy concerns in its popular Chrome web browser’s Incognito mode.
