Aug 26 2020: Even Google engineers are confused about Google’s privacy settings

Back in Aug 26 2020: Even Google engineers are confused about Google’s privacy settings

Internal documents unsealed in a lawsuit revealed that Google employees themselves are confused by the company's privacy settings. The lawsuit, originally filed by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, was prompted by an AP article in 2018 that exposed Google's data collection practices.

Despite Google's claims of cooperating with the investigation and making improvements to privacy controls, the documents show that confusion still exists among users. One specific issue is that even when users turn off ad personalization based on location, Google still serves ads within a general area. The documents highlight the need for clearer and more transparent privacy settings.

Fast forward to Dec 29 2023: Google agrees to settle $5bn lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked users

Google has reached a preliminary settlement in a lawsuit accusing the company of secretly tracking the internet activity of users who used private browsing modes. The lawsuit, which sought at least $5 billion, alleged that Google's analytics, cookies, and apps allowed the company to collect information about users' online activities, including potentially embarrassing details.

The settlement terms were not disclosed, but a formal agreement is expected to be presented for court approval by February 2024. This is a significant development in the ongoing privacy concerns surrounding tech giants.

How might Google's alleged secret tracking of internet use impact the accountability of tech companies?