Your data may not be totally safe after all while browsing in incognito mode on Chrome browser as Google says that ‘incognito doesn’t mean invisible’. Google says it makes it clear to users that their activity while in incognito mode may be visible to websites they visit and any third-party analytics or ad services the visited website uses.
In a complaint filed last June against Google by three users, Google has been alleged of carrying out a ‘pervasive data tracking business’, claiming that the company secretly collects users’ information even when they go further to protect their private information, such as using incognito mode in Chrome. According to CNET, the lawsuit claimed that Google makes use of systems such as Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager, website plug-ins, and other applications, including the mobile apps, to collect users’ data.
Despite Google’s wish that the $5 billion lawsuit charges be discarded, the US District Judge has ruled that Google will face a class action lawsuit. The US District Judge, Lucy Koh, in her ruling stated that the search giant company ‘did not notify users that Google engages in the alleged data collection while the user is in private browsing mode’.
Google, however, disagrees with the lawsuit’s claim and says that they ‘will defend ourselves vigorously against them’, according to Jose Castaneda, Google’s spokesperson. Jose Casteñeda explained that incognito mode gives users the choice to surf the internet without saving their activities to the browser or to their phones; ‘as we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity during your session’.
Google in its court filing made it clear that browsing in incognito does not guarantee by a 100% the security of one’s data, and for users this means that incognito does not do so much to protect their online privacy.
Google, earlier this year, has made known its plan to phase out the third-party cookies which will not be replaced with any other tech that may be invasive, once it is phased out. This change will mean that cookies will not be able to collect information on the Chrome browser, as it will be prohibited.
Ibhadojemu Lucky Emmanuel is a graduate of Education and Economics from the University of Benin. He has a passion for tech and business and has been writing professionally for over a period of five years. He's written across various topics and segments and knew tech-business was it when he first stumbled on it. He has a great passion for music and arts, and wants to visit as many countries as he can someday.
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