Incognito Mode: The Myth Has Been Completely Debunked

Google Agrees to Delete Billions of Incognito Mode Data Records in ​Settlement

Google has recently ‌agreed to delete “billions of data records” collected ‌from users‌ browsing the web using Incognito mode, as reported​ by Bloomberg. This settlement puts an end ⁣to​ the notion that Incognito mode offers complete privacy while ‍browsing the internet.

Changes to Incognito⁢ Mode ‌and Privacy Policy

As part of ​the⁣ settlement, Google will make several changes to its Incognito mode and privacy policy. The Incognito splash page will now explicitly state that Google collects data from third-party websites, regardless of the browsing or browser ⁣mode used. It will also clarify that third-party sites and apps integrating Google’s services may still share information with the company. These details will also be included in Google’s privacy policy.

Deletion of Private Browsing Data

Google has agreed⁢ to⁢ delete certain private browsing data ⁣as part of ⁣the​ settlement. This includes data older than nine months from the date the settlement term sheet was signed in December 2022, as well as private browsing data collected throughout December 2023. However, some documents in the case referring to Google’s data collection methods remain sealed, ⁣making it challenging⁤ to assess the thoroughness of the deletion process.

Google ‍spokesperson⁢ Jose Castaneda says in a statement that the company “is happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.”

Castaneda also noted that Google will ⁤now pay “zero” dollars ⁣as part of the ‍settlement, after previously facing a $5 billion penalty.

Additional Measures

Google will take additional steps to enhance user privacy, including:

• Blocking third-party ⁢cookies within Incognito mode for five years
• Partially redacting IP addresses to prevent re-identification of anonymized user data
• Removing certain header​ information that ‌can currently be used⁣ to identify users with Incognito mode active

Preemptive Changes and Ongoing Concerns

The settlement follows preemptive changes Google ‍has ⁤made to its Incognito mode data collection‌ and the way it describes the feature. For nearly four years, Google has been phasing out third-party cookies, and in January, the company replaced the term “private” with ⁣”more private” when⁢ referring to Incognito mode.

While ⁢the settlement aims ⁣to ​put an end to Google’s allegedly unlawful activities, it does not rule out any future claims. Critics argue that private browsing⁤ modes offer little protection against the extensive tracking bearing down on most users today, and ‍at worst, ⁢they ⁤create a false sense of security, enabling companies like Google to passively monitor millions of users who believe they are browsing privately.