Google gatecrash user's privacy mode, faces lawsuit worth $5 bn


By MYBRANDBOOK


Google gatecrash user's privacy mode, faces lawsuit worth $5 bn

Google is facing a $5 billion lawsuit in the US for trespassing into the user’s no entry mode. The claims over the search engine giant is that it collected user information even when they surfed the internet in incognito mode or private mode in Chrome browser. The class-action lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that Google tracked and collected consumer browsing history even if users took steps to maintain their privacy, as per the news reports.

 

Google also violated a California law that requires consent of all parties to read or learn the contents of private communication, alleged the lawsuit.

 

"Google tracks and collects consumer browsing history and other web activity data no matter what safeguards consumers undertake to protect their data privacy," the complaints said in their suit seeking compensatory damages.

 

A Google spokesperson denied the claim. "We strongly dispute these claims, and we will defend ourselves vigorously against them.

 

"Incognito mode in Chrome gives you the choice to browse the internet without your activity being saved to your browser or device. 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," the company spokesperson added.

 

Many users think that once they are logged into the Internet via Incognito Mode, their search history isn't being tracked. Incognito mode within Google's Chrome browser gives users the choice to search the internet without their activity being saved to the browser or device.

 

But the websites visited can use tools such as Google Analytics to track the usage. A joint study from Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pennsylvania last year investigated 22,484 sex websites using a tool called "webXray" revealed that 93 percent of pages track and leak users' data to third-party organisations. 

 

"Tracking on these sites is highly concentrated by a handful of major companies," said the researchers who identified 230 different companies and services tracking users in their sample. Of non-pornography-specific services, Google tracks 74 percent of sites, Oracle 24 percent and Facebook 10 percent, said the study.

 E-Magazine 
 VIDEOS  Placeholder image

Copyright www.mybrandbook.co.in @1999-2024 - All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Kalinga Digital Media Pvt. Ltd. is prohibited.
Other Initiatives : www.varindia.com | www.spoindia.org