Blimey! Avast ye! 'Tis a misfortune, mateys! Updated fine print reveals Chrome's Incognito Mode still be collectin' yer data!
2024-01-16
Arr, ye scurvy dogs at Google be claimin' they be makin' Chrome's Incognito Mode more transparent, but fear not, me hearties, for their mischievous ways remain unchanged!
In an effort to be more transparent with users, Google has updated the language on Chrome's Incognito Mode disclaimer to clarify that the company does collect user data. The new wording, discovered on the latest Chrome Canary update, includes an additional line stating that data collection by websites and services, including Google, will not be changed. This update is likely a result of a $5 billion class action lawsuit filed against Google in 2020, accusing the company of collecting user data from private mode web browsers. The lawsuit claimed that Google did not explicitly inform users about this data collection. The case was eventually settled on December 28, 2023, for an undisclosed amount.It is unclear when the updated wording will be implemented in the stable version of Chrome. Canary, the experimental version of Chrome, is known for launching features before they are available to the general public. However, since the Incognito Mode refresh only involves a few lines of text, the update may come out fairly soon. The settlement reached in December 2023 must be presented to the court by the end of January and approved by the end of February.
It's important to note that despite the language update, Google's data collection practices will remain the same. The only difference now is that Google is explicitly informing users about it. To maintain online privacy, users are encouraged to explore TechRadar's list of the best privacy tools for 2024.