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Google Discloses That Incognito Mode in Chrome Isn't Entirely 'Private'

Google was already in the middle of a class-action lawsuit regarding the incognito mode, where they were accused of tracking user activity. And, they agreed to settle the lawsuit.

To conclude that and move on, they will have to make the necessary changes to prevent another lawsuit against them.

TurboHarbinger ,

https://feddit.cl/pictrs/image/bd312e7c-f48d-4ac3-bfc9-fe379c0c6704.jpeg

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@beehaw.org avatar

I'm shocked.

Aatube ,
@Aatube@kbin.social avatar

TL;DR: Chrome doesn't stop trackers, so they're gonna add a warning that incognito doesn't stop trackers.

peter ,
@peter@feddit.uk avatar

Does Firefox private browsing or Edge's..whatever they call it stop trackers? If not are they being sued too?

Aatube ,
@Aatube@kbin.social avatar

No, but they've included the warnings already, so they won't get sued.

peter ,
@peter@feddit.uk avatar

The edge message definitely isn't clear. The Firefox one is better though

Aatube ,
@Aatube@kbin.social avatar

Chrome claimed “Now you can browse privately”, which none of these do. Also, your screenshot for Edge is outdated.

peter ,
@peter@feddit.uk avatar

I couldn't find a newer screenshot, I assume its just chromium wording now?

Aatube ,
@Aatube@kbin.social avatar

Nope. It's very different. I'm pretty sure this was changed way before this lawsuit.

peter ,
@peter@feddit.uk avatar

Wow, I do kinda see why Google got sued now looking at those

Bitrot ,
@Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Before they switched to the two column layout I swear the message used to be about the same as what they updated it to. But it's been a long time since I used Chrome.

conciselyverbose ,

No shit.

It's never been a secret what incognito mode does. Websites have always still been able to do whatever they want with your traffic, because the browser doesn't control that in any way.

Engywuck , (edited )

Yeah. But you don't get upvotes so easily by not shouting "Google bad!".

helenslunch ,

While this might be obvious to you or I, it's obviously not obvious to some people who think it gives them some semblance of privacy.

The only "private mode" of browsing is anything that's not Chrome or Edge.

Engywuck ,

it’s obviously not obvious to some people who think it gives them some semblance of privacy.people who think it gives them some semblance of privacy.

As I said in a different comment, it should have been obvious to anyone with with basic reading skills. Google may be a shitty company (it surely is), but the PEBCAK factor is strong factor in this case.

The only “private mode” of browsing is anything that’s not Chrome or Edge.

Disagree. Independently on the browser you use, website may track you server side and you wouldn't ever know.

helenslunch ,

it should have been obvious to anyone with with basic reading skills

Just because you have the skill to read doesn't mean you read ever piece of text in the known universe.

Engywuck ,

Right. Much easier to avoid reading altogether and just blame someone else when bad thing occur. Typical.

jarfil , (edited )
@jarfil@beehaw.org avatar

The only "private mode" of browsing is anything that's not Chrome or Edge.

Firefox's private mode says:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/common-myths-about-private-browsing

helenslunch ,

I'm not reading that. I know what I'm talking about.

jarfil ,
@jarfil@beehaw.org avatar

Ok. I'll leave it just in case someone else doesn't.

saigot ,

https://lemmy.ca/pictrs/image/988103cb-75af-4c8a-86da-9adac316a96e.png

How much obvious does it need to be?

helenslunch ,

They lost a $5B lawsuit because the things on that page weren't true.

sirdorius ,

Honestly, this article is pretty bad at explaining the problem here. It's clear that other websites will try to track you, but the important part of this incognito drama is this:

The plaintiffs also accused Google of taking Chrome users' private browsing activity and then associating it with their already-existing user profiles.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/google-agrees-to-settle-in-chrome-incognito-mode-class-action-lawsuit/

conciselyverbose ,

Of course they did. It doesn't take any kind of abuse of the browser to do that. It's all on the website side and everyone does that.

Ban most data gathering websites do. But this has literally zero to do with the browser.

AndrasKrigare ,

That's not true. If you're intentionally logged in to a website, sure, but tracking without an account requires action on the part of your browser, assuming you're using a VPN. Cookies, ad-IDs, user agent, preferred language, etc. is all information that the browser can decide if it provides or not.

conciselyverbose ,

I promise none of these people are using a VPN. IP is plenty.

Chrome never claimed it was spoofing any of those details, and spoofing those details without clearly telling the users what they're doing and why would murder the user experience. Their position as a browser had literally no impact on that tracking.

Hirom ,

Of course, a better course of action could have been “actually” improving the incognito mode instead of just updating the notice.

An even better course of action is for people to switch to a browser that care about users' privacy and block trackers by default.

Google makes billions from targeted advertising every year, don't expect it to improve privacy unless it's forced to by regulation or competition.

grandel ,

Yeah if you use a google product and expect privacy, you dont know how google makes money.

tardigrada OP ,

Google makes billions from targeted advertising every year, don't expect it to improve privacy unless it's forced to by regulation or competition.

Yeah, I have been wondering my whole life that there are so many people believing in 'privacy tools' by companies like Google. This is one of the things that mystifies me most.

helenslunch ,

Of course you're correct but the quote you're using is in regards to Google.

Hirom ,

Yes. And my point is: the best course is a action is not waiting for Google to do the right thing, but to move away from Google

Liberbara ,
@Liberbara@beehaw.org avatar

Agree! Here's a video for anyone who's looking for some help in this front from our friends of Techlore

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