Judge Rules Google Must Face Lawsuit Alleging Chrome Tracks Users in Incognito Mode

[burgman]

"If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold."

Does that bumper sticker apply to Apple also?

 

[code-m]

Exactly. Let them use their google services there.

Only Google product I use is Gmail and I have had that since the initial beta days, for which I am transitioning to another service. It’s going rather well, I’d say.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Google needs to go. What purpose does it serve society other than copying apple and stealing data?

Like half of the features in iOS lmao. You’re way out into the weeds with that one

 

[iapplelove]

That's a bit of an exaggeration, no? They don't "Steal" data. You agree to all the data they collect, and to allow Google to use it in pretty much any way they see fit when you click the install button. It's just that nobody reads the legal text when they download and hit that install button.

That being said, I think these tech/software companies don't do enough to make it clear exactly WHAT data they are collecting, HOW OFTEN, and WHAT IT MEANS... in plain English. "Share with partners" doesn't equate to what they actually do with your data for most people.

In the end, though, I believe it's up to the user to do enough research to understand what they're doing and what they're in for when they use a product. To me, much (not all) of this is like filing suit against an automaker because a loved one dies in a car accident; claiming the automaker didn't clearly explain every possible scenario of using the car, including a car accident resulting in death.

In 2021, it should not be news to anyone using a computer/smartphone that you are being tracked everywhere, ALL your personal information is being collected, and it's highly likely that it will be sold in one fashion or another.

I'm not saying I'm happy with this, or that we should accept it. But these lawsuits are completely ridiculous and do nothing to change things, other than convincing these companies to come up with even more clever ways to hide what they're doing.

thank you for this.

 

[ericwn]

Sounds like the memoirs of an addict.

Wait a few minutes and someone without need for privacy (or understanding of the matter) will throw the usual “ I have nothing to hide” excuse around.

 

[burgman]

If they did there would be some fine print
<super duper small font obfuscated in legalize that the guy from Suits couldn't decipher>
By clicking in this banner, you wave all previous privacy rights and opt into all Google data collection regardless of other choices. You voluntarily submit to google collecting and selling any data they want from you down to and including sending corporate agents to do a body cavity search.

Furthermore, but NOT clicking on this banner, you agree to the same.
</super duper small font obfuscated in legalize that the guy from Suits couldn't decipher>

I mean these are the same guys that allege Apple is being unfair by trying to protect you from tracking, however much they can.

Also, to the guy who says you do not pay for Safari, you do. It is bundled with the price of the Mac - just like Garage band, Pages, and OS X.

As is chrome on android devices.

 

[code-m]

Wait a few minutes and someone without need for privacy (or understanding of the matter) will throw the usual “ I have nothing to hide” excuse around.

Yep “nothing to hide” until an opposing voice does not like something one did or said and then throws a tantrum and calling people out without evidence other than perception of words.

 

[Rafagon]

The article mentions California privacy laws.

My question is, do I have to live in California to participate in this lawsuit and collect the $5,000 in damages?

 

[ericwn]

Only Google product I use is Gmail and I have had that since the initial beta days, for which I am transitioning to another service. It’s going rather well, I’d say.

What, the free data mining? I expect that to be the one thing going well at any given time ad the ad company.

 

[now i see it]

Congnito Mode

 

[truthertech]

What did the guy think, incognito meant he was invisible to websites and tracking??? LOL!

You’re missing the issue. It isn’t the sites that you visit; it’s that Google is tracking you when you visit those sites via Chrome even though you are in incognito mode!

 

[TVreporter]

Hope Google get shut down cos of this. People should switch to Safari

While $5B is a lot, Google will be fine they’re worth nearly a trillion.

Sadly too many people overthink “private” and not realize their ISP and others can still see what you’re doing online.

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

Good luck Google.

 

[doboy]

"If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold."

Sadly most companies track you even if you pay for their services. At least they try to.

 

[blazerunner]

Don't think Google has anything to worry about here. More about peoples inability to understand how incognito mode actually works.

So it's ok to mislead people?

 

[code-m]

What, the free data mining? I expect that to be the one thing going well at any given time ad the ad company.

Not sure how well it’s going for them because it’s about 10% of my usage as a secondary account and mainly used for spam/junk mail. The Big G’s metrics on me are probably skewed and Swiss Cheesed.

 

[generalanders]

imo problem is that google is first party and they still collecting your datas.

 

[CE3]

incognito​

in·cog·ni·to | \ ˌin-ˌkäg-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō

1 having one's identity concealed

Google Chrome: Sorry, doesn’t mean that here. We redefine buzz words for the purposes of marketing phony features to consumers. Please see our “you have no privacy” policy.

 

[mi7chy]

incognito​

in·cog·ni·to | \ ˌin-ˌkäg-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō

1 having one's identity concealed

Google Chrome: Sorry, doesn’t mean that here. We redefine buzz words for the purposes of marketing phony features to consumers. Please see our “you have no privacy” policy.

Safari private browsing isn't private either. At least they didn't call it anonymous browsing but even Tor browser isn't 100% anonymous. Only 100% privacy and anonymity can be achieved if you lock yourself in the house and unplug your internet router.

 

[jz0309]

when I launch Chrome and go tint incognito it displays this ... granted I do not know at which date this originally showed up

You’ve gone incognito​

Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved. Learn more

Chrome won’t save the following information:

• Your browsing history
• Cookies and site data
• Information entered in forms

Your activity might still be visible to:

• Websites you visit
• Your employer or school
• Your internet service provider

 

[CarpalMac]

Who are you quoting?

Just the obligatory like chasing post. Every Google related article has them.
Oddly, they never seem to appear in Facebook ones...

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Nothing suprising here... To be expected.

 

[code-m]

While $5B is a lot, Google will be fine they’re worth nearly a trillion.

Sadly too many people overthink “private” and not realize their ISP and others can still see what you’re doing online.

Most people in my circle use a VPN. Even some outside my circle while there’s are no aware, but once made aware get a VPN.

 

[69Mustang]

Sort of a double-edged sword here. If someone uses a Google product, then Google has the right to collect information for their own purposes (such as making their product better, targeting certain groups of customers in order to sell their products, etc.). What I think is that they don't have the right to then sell that information to other companies, because that information belongs to me. In using their products, I acknowledge that they can use that information for their own purposes.

But even in incognito mode, you're still using a Google product. And they still have the right to collect information to make their products better (according to their EULA, which you agree to when you use their product). Much of this has to do with the fact that people don't know what Google does with this information, and Google's reputation is such that they are perceived as being duplicitous and/or nefarious (or whatever) when it comes to how they use it.

Hopefully this goes to a jury, I'm content to let them decide. For example, where does Google draw the line when it comes to what type of information they collect when you are in public versus Incognito mode? I don't know, and it doesn't seem like anybody but Google knows the answer to that question (definitively). It would help if Google was clearer with their EULA, for one.

Or you can do what I do, and don't use Google products. There are other free and paid options out there for people to use. It's up to you.

Not really double-edged for anyone who can read. When you engage incognito mode here's what you get. If for some odd reason a person can't discern their activity can still be tracked after reading this splash page... even Jeebus can't help.

But wouldn’t Google not be counted as a third-party in this case, since they are the software maker?

Google also makes clear that 'Incognito' does not mean 'invisible,' and that the user's activity during that session may be visible to websites they visit, and any third-party analytics or ads services the visited websites use," Google said in a court filing.

Google is going to be primary ad service being used on the majority of almost any site you visit.

 

[CJ Dorschel]

Google and big tech remind me of Ma Bell and Lily Tomlin/SNL poking “phun” at communication giants. Only now, kids are on the side of big tech. [sigh]