Keely Goodall4 April 2024 | 10:32

Google agrees to collect less personal data after class-action lawsuit

The search engine will delete millions of browsing records in settlement of the lawsuit.

Google agrees to collect less personal data after class-action lawsuit

Google. Picture: Pexels

Motheo Khoaripe speaks with Jan Vermeulen, Mybroadband Editor

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

When surfing the web, there's an option to use incognito mode, which supposedly keeps your internet browsing anonymous.

However, Google found itself in hot water for collecting this browsing data.

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Following the lawsuit, the company agreed to delete millions of browsing records, to change disclosures, and to provide an option to block third-party cookies.

No monetary damages were awarded in the lawsuit.

According to Vermeulen this hasn’t really affected Google at all.

“They didn't seem too fussed about it… I think the only people that won here were the lawyers.” 
- Jan Vermeulen, Mybroadband Editor

However, he says the change to Google’s cookies could make a huge difference for privacy when searching the web.

“There has been a push to not gather so much personally identifying information about people.”
- Jan Vermeulen, Mybroadband Editor

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.