April 1, 2024 at 09:48PM
Google has agreed to wipe out billions of personal records from its Chrome web browser, settling a lawsuit alleging illegal surveillance. The deal, subject to court approval, requires Google to make privacy disclosures, limit data collection, and expunge stored personal records. The settlement does not include payments to affected consumers. Investors seem unaffected as Alphabet’s shares rose.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that Google has agreed to purge billions of personal records collected from millions of Chrome web browser users in the U.S. as part of a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the company of illegal surveillance. The settlement also requires Google to make more prominent privacy disclosures about Chrome’s Incognito mode and imposes other controls aimed at limiting the collection of personal information. Interestingly, consumers represented in the lawsuit will not receive any damages or payments as part of the settlement. However, the settlement does not shield Google from potential future lawsuits related to the same issues.
The attorneys representing Chrome users valued the settlement at $4.75 billion to $7.8 billion based on the potential ad sales that the personal information collected through Chrome could have generated without the new restrictions. Although the settlement terms don’t seem to significantly worry investors, it is clear that Google is facing legal threats on the regulatory frontier, particularly related to its search engine and Android app store.
This information underscores the significance of the settlement in the Chrome case and its potential impact on the collection of personal information online in the future. It is also evident that the outcome of ongoing legal battles and regulatory challenges could have a substantial impact on Google’s business.