Google to Destroy Billions of Private Browsing Records in Settlement Over Web-Tracking Practices

According to a 2020 class-action lawsuit, Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people.
Google to destroy billions of private browsing records in Settlement Over Web-Tracking Practices
Settlement requires approval from US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and will update disclosures about what Google collects in private browsing sessions.
Google to Destroy Billions of Private Browsing Records in Settlement Over Web-Tracking Practices

Google has agreed to destroy billions of data records of peoples private browsing history as part of a settlement disclosed on Monday over the company web-tracking practices. According to a 2020 class-action lawsuit, Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people. The settlement requires approval from US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and will update disclosures about what Google collects in private browsing sessions.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the destruction of these records will actually prevent future data breaches or misuse.
  • The exact number of data records to be destroyed has not been disclosed.

Sources

77%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google to destroy billions of browsing records to settle incognito lawsuit

KTLA News Jas Kang Tuesday, 02 April 2024 01:16
  • Unique Points
    • ,
    • Google will destroy billions of data records of peoples private browsing history as part of a settlement disclosed on Monday over the company web-tracking practices.
    • According to a 2020 class-action lawsuit, Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Google will destroy all of its browsing records to settle the lawsuit when in reality it's only destroying some of them. Secondly, the author claims that users can block third-party cookies for five years but fails to mention that this feature has been available on Chrome for a long time and is not exclusive to this settlement. Lastly, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'destroy billions of data records' when in reality it's only a small fraction of them.
    • The title implies that Google will destroy all of its browsing records to settle the lawsuit when in reality it's only destroying some of them. This is an example of sensationalism and deceptive word choice.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Google has agreed to destroy billions of data records without providing any evidence or citation for this claim. Secondly, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either users are in incognito mode and their browsing data is being tracked or they are not in incognito mode and their browsing data is not being tracked. This oversimplifies the issue and ignores other possible scenarios where user privacy may be compromised. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that Google — which is owned by California-based company Alphabet — used its analytics, apps, and cookies to improperly track people’s browsing data even though they were either in incognito or private mode. This statement implies that the tracking was intentional and malicious which may not be entirely accurate.
    • Google has agreed to destroy billions of data records
    • Another caveat of the settlement is that for the next five years, Google will allow users who are in private browsing modes to block third-party cookies.
  • Bias (75%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

82%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google to delete search data of millions who used 'incognito' mode

National Public Radio (NPR) Monday, 01 April 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Google will destroy billions of data records of peoples private browsing history as part of a settlement disclosed on Monday over the company web-tracking practices.
    • For years, Google simply informed users of Chrome internet browser that youve gone Incognito and now you can browse privately when the supposedly untraceable browsing option was turned on without saying what bits of data the company has been harvesting.
    • According to a 2020 class-action lawsuit, Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people.
    • Google then used this data to measure web traffic and sell ads.
    • In addition, when users are using incognito mode, Google will by default block third-party companies from tracking peoples so-called cookies which is how advertisers glean information about a person search history.
    • <em>Under the deal</em>, Google will have to state that the company itself can also track browsing during incognito mode.
    • Class members who include tens of millions of people who have browsed using incognito mode will not receive any monetary damages but individual users are able to sue Google in California state court to recover money over the covert data tracking.
    • <em>Google employees</em> complained to management about Incognito mode not living up to its name.
    • The suit referenced an email sent by Googles marketing chief, Lorraine Twohill, to CEO Sundar Pichai suggesting that the company was misleading the public about the browsing tool.
  • Accuracy
    • Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people.
    • Under the deal, Google will have to state that the company itself can also track browsing during incognito mode.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the settlement was disclosed on Monday over the company's web-tracking practices without providing any evidence or sources for this information. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that Google will have to state that it can also track browsing during incognito mode when under the deal they are only required to delete old technical data and not make any payment as part of the settlement.
    • Google simply informed users of Chrome's internet browser that
  • Bias (85%)
    The article discusses Google's decision to delete search data of millions who used incognito mode. The author states that the company has been tracking users in private browsing mode through advertising tools and using this data to measure web traffic and sell ads. This is a clear example of monetary bias as it shows how Google profits from collecting user information without their consent.
    • Google simply informed users of Chrome's internet browser that
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    84%

    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

    Google to destroy billions of private browsing records to settle lawsuit

    theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Monday, 01 April 2024 20:54
    • Unique Points
      • ,
      • Google will destroy billions of data records of peoples private browsing history as part of a settlement disclosed on Monday over the company web-tracking practices.
      • According to a 2020 class-action lawsuit, Google continued to scrape searches by hoovering up data about users who browsed the internet in incognito mode through advertising tools used by websites, grabbing potentially embarrassing searches of millions of people.
    • Accuracy
      • For years, Google simply informed users of Chrome internet browser that youve gone Incognito and now you can browse privately when the supposedly untraceable browsing option was turned on without saying what bits of data the company has been harvesting.
      • Google then used this data to measure web traffic and sell ads.
      • In addition, when users are using incognito mode, Google will by default block third-party companies from tracking peoples so-called cookies which is how advertisers glean information about a person search history.
      • Under the deal, Google will have to state that the company itself can also track browsing during incognito mode.
      • Class members who include tens of millions of people who have browsed using incognito mode will not receive any monetary damages but individual users are able to sue Google in California state court to recover money over the covert data tracking.
      • Google employees complained to management about Incognito mode not living up to its name.
      • The suit referenced an email sent by Googles marketing chief, Lorraine Twohill, to CEO Sundar Pichai suggesting that the company was misleading the public about the browsing tool.
    • Deception (50%)
      Google is deceiving its users by claiming that their private browsing data is not being tracked when in fact it is. The article states that Google's analytics, cookies and apps allow the company to improperly track people who set Chrome browser to 'incognito' mode and other browsers to 'private' browsing mode. This turns Google into an unaccountable trove of information by letting it learn about their friends, favorite foods, hobbies, shopping habits and the most intimate and potentially embarrassing things they hunt for online.
      • Google claims that its analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet unit improperly track people who set Google's Chrome browser to 'incognito' mode
      • The result is that Google will collect less data from users private browsing sessions, and that Google will make less money from the data
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (85%)
      The article reports that Google has agreed to destroy billions of records in order to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of people who thought they were browsing privately. The author uses language such as 'unaccountable trove' and 'most intimate and potentially embarrassing things' which is biased towards portraying Google negatively.
      • Google’s analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet unit improperly track people who set Google’s Chrome browser to “incognito” mode and other browsers to “private” browsing mode.
        • The result is that Google will collect less data from users' private browsing sessions, and that Google will make less money from the data.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication