Uh-oh, Chrome's Incognito Mode still collects your data, according to updated fine print

Date:
Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:01:15 +0000

Description:
Google aims to be more transparent by updating Chrome's Incognito Mode text although this doesn't change its behavior.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

In an effort to be more transparent with users, Google is clarifying the language on Chromes Incognito Mode disclaimer saying, in no uncertain terms, the company does indeed collect your data.

An extra line has been added stating This wont change how data is collected
by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google. The refreshed wording was initially discovered by tech news site MSPowerUser on the latest Chrome Canary update for desktop and mobile. We installed the browser onto our devices to double-check and we can confirm the line is
indeed there.

The bullet points below the disclaimer are mostly the same. One of the
headers does have a few extra words with it now stating Chrome wont save the following information followed by the list instead of simply Chrome wont
save.

Although its unconfirmed, the language update is likely to be the result of a recent lawsuit settlement. Back in 2020 , Google was hit with a $5 billion class action lawsuit accusing the tech giant of collecting user data from web browsers operating in private mode. The company argued that every time
someone opened an incognito tab, Chrome clearly informed people it or other websites may collect information on users.

However, the judge presiding over the case didnt buy the argument stating Google never explicitly told users that it does so. The two parties involved eventually agreed to a settlement on December 28, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. Pending update

Its unknown when the wording will make its way from over from Canary to the stable version of the browser.

If youre not familiar with it, Canary is an experimental version of Chrome primarily meant for developers looking to try out upcoming features before they launch. Its not meant for the average person as it is unstable and capable of crashing at random times.

Canary features can take a long time to launch, but given that its only a few lines of text, we could see the Incognito Mode refresh come out fairly soon. According to an Ars Technica report from late December , the settlement will need to be presented to the court by the end of January. That court will have to approve the deal by the end of February.

So we could see the new wording sometime in March at the earliest. We reached out to Google for more details. This story will be updated at a later time.

Keep in mind that this doesnt change the companys behavior. It will still collect data on you. The only difference now is that Google is telling people its collecting data. To maintain online privacy, be sure to check out TechRadars massive list of the best privacy tools for 2024 . You might also like The best VPN service in 2024 Googles war on adblockers may have broken YouTube for Microsoft Edge users This new Chrome feature may protect your privacy in a big way



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/browsers/uh-oh-chromes-incognito-mode-stil l-collects-your-data-according-to-updated-fine-print


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)