Google Can't Shake Privacy Claims Over 'Incognito' Tracking

Google must face claims that it violates federal and California state privacy laws by collecting data about Chrome users who browse the web in "incognito" mode, a federal judge ruled Friday.

“Google did not notify users that Google engages in the alleged data collection while the user is in private browsing mode,” U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose said in a 41-page opinion rejecting Google's bid for an early dismissal.

The decision stems from a class-action complaint filed in June by California residents Chasom Brown and Maria Nguyen and Florida resident William Byatt.

They alleged that even when Chrome users are in incognito mode, their visits to sites that use Google Analytics or Google Ad Manager result in Google's collection of IP addresses, browser and device information, and web pages' content.