Google Settles to Delete Millions of Data
They were illegally collected even though users thought they were viewing them privately
US tech giant Google has found itself at the center of a massive antitrust trial that began in September 2023. In anticipation of the hottest topics of the court battle, the American company from Mountain View, California, is “getting rid” of the problem by turning to a plea bargain regarding a class action lawsuit filed in 2020 that accused the company of collecting data from millions of users without their knowledge.
At the center of the lawsuit is the Chrome browser and, in particular, its “incognito browsing mode” feature, which was not actually incognito. The settlement agreement stipulates that Google will delete millions of illegally collected data, change its communications to be more transparent, and offer those who browse the option to disable third-party cookies. The allegations were particularly detailed and supported by evidence, among which was even an email from marketing executive Lorraine Twohill to CEO Sundar Pichai, warning him that defining incognito browsing in Chrome as “private” could cause misunderstandings.
David Boies, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, explained, as reported by Italian news agency ANSA: “This agreement is a historic step that demands more honesty and accountability from technology companies.”
Now Google will face one of the key lawsuits that will determine the future of not only its own, but other big tech companies as well, namely the one that began in September 2023, in which Google is accused of violating antitrust laws by illegally gaining its dominance in the online search sector.