Web browsers like Google Chrome offer a feature called private browsing or incognito mode, designed to enhance user privacy. In Google Chrome’s incognito mode, the browser doesn’t save your browsing history locally on your device. However, a crucial distinction lies in the fact that your online activities are still visible to websites, schools, businesses, and internet service providers (ISPs).
The issue gained prominence in 2020 when Google faced a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading users about the privacy of incognito mode. The lawsuit alleged that Google violated privacy laws, and the plaintiffs sought a substantial compensation of at least $5 billion. Despite Google’s efforts to dismiss the case, they recently settled for $5 billion without admitting any wrongdoing.
The crux of the matter is that while the Chrome browser, in incognito mode, doesn’t save your local browsing history, Google, as a search engine and advertising company, continues to track your online activities as it normally would. This means that your interactions with Google services and the data they collect remain unaffected by incognito mode.
To address the concerns raised by the lawsuit and to improve transparency, Google has updated the disclaimer in the incognito mode window.
The revised disclaimer explicitly states that, while individuals using the same device won’t see your activity, Google will still gather data about your online behavior. Moreover, the disclaimer emphasizes that certain information such as downloads, bookmarks, and reading list items will be saved.
This clarification is available in the latest version of Chrome Canary on Windows and Android. It is anticipated to roll out to the public versions of Chrome in the near future. This adjustment in the disclaimer aims to provide users with clearer information about the extent of privacy protection offered by incognito mode while navigating the complexities of online data tracking and user privacy concerns.
