Google has been accussed that even in Incognito i.e. Private Browsing Mode it collects user data.
Earlier Xiaomi was also found to be tracking & collecting users data in Incognito Mode and Xiaomi provided an Update to Fix it.
But what is different here is, Xiaomi was found & Proved to be Collecting Data in Incognito, While Google is Just Accused right now.
But People, Just Like Media Trials, already Providing their Verdict that Google is not Safe.
What is Incognito Mode / Private Mode?
Its a feature of Many Web Browsers where you use your Web anonymously, which means, browser wont know who you are, what you are doing & what website you visit. It wont collect any information from you.
But the Truth is Without Collecting any information, No Browser Will Work at all.
Like,
Pressing Back Key to go on Previous Page in Incognito Still Works, So temporary data is Saved to your Device to provide you better Experience.
Also, If you login to Some Website, Lets say, Facebook in incognito, that login remains logged in until you closed the Incognito Mode or Log out Manually, because websites do track you even in incognito, if they wont track, after each refresh you should get logged out in incognito automatically, isn't it?
So these are temporary Data collection, Which in turns gets deleted when a user leaves Incognito Mode.
Now If the Complaint is filed for these Data Collection, Its totally baseless and Google Clearly States in the Terms & Conditions what they can't collect and what may get collected.
Even if you turn on Incognito, or open new tab, the First page you will see is how incognito works and what chrome collects & what websites may collect. So Chrome is always clear about those.
Here is what Google's T&C Says -
Once you exit all your Incognito browsing windows, Chrome won’t save:
-Your browsing history
-Your cookies and site data
-Information you entered in forms
-Permissions you give websites
-To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito windows.
Your activity might still be visible
-Websites you visit, including the ads and resources used on those sites
-Websites you sign in to
-Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using
-Your internet service provider
-Search engines
-Search engines may show search suggestions based on your location or activity in your current Incognito browsing session.
So, Its quite clear that Google is not at fault here.
It seems this lawsuit will fail as many other lawsuits before.
But yes, I wont be biased, if Google is at fault here with any means, then the real truth should come out soon and necessary actions should be taken.
But What I see here is a bunch of allegations that aren't strong enough to counter Google.
What Complain Says :
According to the complaint filed in the federal court in San Jose, California, Google gathers data through Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager and other applications and website plug-ins, including smartphone apps, regardless of whether users click on Google-supported ads.
My Take - First of all Google Analytics, Ad Manager Works in Incognito to Show you Ads, and if you click on those Ads in Incognito, you are Visiting a Website where these Ads are headed, now those Website which are not owned by Google may track your location, activity, etc. But its not Google's fault. Google's fault would have been if they showed Ads based on your activity in Incognito, Which it never does. Analytics & Ad Managers treats you totally as anonymous and gives random Ads.
From my experience, I have never faced any personalized Ads in Incognito Mode in Google Chrome Ever. So, this Complain doesn't holds much strong point.
Second Line of Complain says -
Google “cannot continue to engage in the covert and unauthorized data collection from virtually every American with a computer or phone,”.
-This Line is Something like a Person who heard something from here & there and started saying anything without any Proof to make his Point Stronger. It feels like the Word "American" used is just to gain Sentiments & Sympathies of Americans in the Court, While a Valid Complaint would have been much more Wider With Relevant Proofs as Google is Present Globally, Not just in America. Seriously.
What Google Replies?
Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesman, said the Mountain View, California-based company will defend itself vigorously against the claims.
“As we clearly state each time you open a new incognito tab, websites might be able to collect information about your browsing activity,” he said.
So lets see Where its headed, but let me Remind you of Some Golden Lines that you may follow each time you heard about these type of News.
- Think for yourselves, Don't be a Sheep. Everytime you heard a News, research about it rather than just blindly sharing it to others.
And in the World of Internet..
-Either Everything is Safe, or Nothing at all. There is nothing in Between.
-If you wan't to Enjoy Internet Anonymously, Don't use Internet at all.
-Web is like a Spider's Web, Its Interconnected everywhere, if some web gets disconnected, its not internet at all.
And Finally :
-Life is Short, Enjoy rather than Worrying.
Thank You
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