Google pays $5 billion to settle claims of tracking consumers' online behaviour

A lawsuit alleging Google of secretly tracking the online activity of millions of people who thought they were browsing anonymously, has achieved a preliminary settlement. The trial of the proposed class action, which sought at least $5 billion, was set to begin in Oakland, California, but U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers pulled it out. Filed in 2020, the lawsuit covered "millions" of Google users since June 1, 2016. Each user involved in the lawsuit sought damages of at least $5,000. These damages were for alleged breaches of federal wiretapping and California privacy laws. 

Details of the settlement remain under wraps. However, both parties have confirmed reaching a binding agreement through mediation. Lawyers are likely to present a formal settlement for court approval by February 24, 2024.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that Google's use of analytics, cookies and various apps enabled the company to track user activities. This tracking occurred even when users opted for 'Incognito' mode in Google Chrome or 'private' browsing in other browsers. 

This action, according to the plaintiffs, turned Google into an uncontrollable repository of personal information. It allowed Google to acquire insights into the user's personal interests, activities, and even sensitive searches. 

Judge Rogers, in August, denied Google's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. She indicated that it was unclear whether Google had legally committed not to collect data in private browsing mode. The judge cited Google's privacy policies and other company statements that hint at limitations on data collection.