Google to Delete Browsing Data Collected in Incognito Mode
- Written by Shipra Sanganeria Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Google has agreed to delete billions of data records it collected of millions of Chrome users while browsing in “Incognito Mode,” as part of a settlement of a June 2020 class action lawsuit.
In the case, Chasom Brown, et al. v. Google , plaintiffs accused the company of illegally tracking and logging user activity while they were using Chrome’s private browsing feature. The Google users said that they were misled by the company in believing that their activities were private and safe from surveillance.
Under the settlement , Google will need to update its disclosure regarding all data collection practices, delete private-browsing past data, implement changes to limit future data collection, and make changes to Incognito Mode third-party cookie collection.
Additionally, Google has also agreed to delete some of the data (in particular plaintiffs), including private-browsing data from December 2023 and earlier.
According to the plaintiff’s lawyers led by David Boies, the settlement is “groundbreaking,” as it stops Google from “surreptitiously collecting user data worth, by Google’s own estimates, billions of dollars.”
Moreover, it creates greater accountability for technology companies where user data is concerned. “This settlement is an historic step in requiring dominant technology companies to be honest in their representations to users about how the companies collect and employ user data, and to delete and remediate data collected.”
Google spokesperson, José Castañeda in a statement said that the company is “happy to delete old technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.”
Castañeda also noted that although the plaintiffs had sought $5 billion in damages, they would be “receiving zero.” Nevertheless, the settlement agreed by both parties’ state that class members can file individual lawsuits.
Despite the company’s claim that data deletion isn’t as significant as claimed in the lawsuit, a footnote in the court filing revealed Google’s unwillingness to delete the stored data. “Google claimed in the litigation that it was impossible to identify (and therefore delete) private browsing data because of how it stored data.”
The final approval of the settlement is expected to be done by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California on July 30, 2024. The settlement, if approved would require Google to delete data of 136 million account holders.
Apple to Start Supporting RCS by Fall 2024
- Written by Elijah Ugoh Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Google hinted that its rival, Apple, is set to provide support for Rich Communication Media (RCS) on iPhones starting this Fall. This indicates that the iPhone maker will likely extend RCS support in the upcoming iOS 18 update.
9to5Google initially spotted the announcement on the landing page of the new Google Messages app , where Google revealed the upcoming update. “Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone,” the page reads.
RCS allows users to send media files, see live-typing indicators, get read receipts, and enjoy end-to-end encryption for their messages. When Apple finally brings RCS to iPhones, it will not only include these features, but it’ll also allow the same encryption for messages between Android and iPhone users.
Currently, messages between iPhones go through Apple’s iMessage service, which also offers end-to-end encryption. iMessage allows users to send media digital files, including stickers and emojis. However, messages between Android and iOS do not support these features, as they rely on the old SMS and MMS services. These services are not encrypted, and messages between Android and iPhones often arrive distorted.
Apple confirmed that it was working on adding RCS support in 2024, according to USA Today . The company didn’t specify the date, but said that messages between Android and iPhones will still be displayed in green bubbles and those between iPhones in blue bubbles. The only change is the way iPhone users will text Android users.
“We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users,” Apple says .
However, The U.S. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued Apple for “undermining apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers.” The DOJ didn’t explicitly mention the “green-blue bubble” messaging divide created by Apple, but the details it provided point to it as one of the reasons for the lawsuit.
“The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act,” the press release on the DOJ website reads.
Apple may end up updating more than just the RCS support on iPhones in upcoming iOS updates and the iPhone 16. But that might also depend on the outcome of the case the DOJ has against it.
