In a significant development, Google has reached a preliminary settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of tracking the internet activity of users even while they were in incognito mode.
Initially scheduled for February 5, 2024, the trial has been postponed due to this agreement.
The terms of the settlement, including the monetary compensation, remain undisclosed.
However, a binding term sheet has been finalized through mediation.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, asserted that Google’s tools could still monitor users’ activities despite utilizing incognito mode, raising concerns about violations of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws.
Judge Rogers had previously denied Google’s attempt to dismiss the lawsuit in August, allowing the case to proceed.
The lawsuit aimed to represent millions of users from June 1, 2016, onward, seeking a minimum of $5,000 in damages per user.
This settlement marks a significant step in addressing the allegations and concerns raised against Google’s privacy practices, although the precise details of the settlement are yet to be revealed.
