A class action lawsuit against Google, alleging unauthorized data collection from Chrome users, has been allowed to proceed. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, claims Google collected user data even when the Chrome sync feature was not activated, which typically stores browsing data like bookmarks and passwords across devices.
Initially dismissed in 2022, the case took a new turn when Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. overturned the previous ruling. The judge argued that the initial decision failed to consider whether users genuinely understood Google’s privacy policy, which might have misled them about data collection practices.
Read more: Google Admits: Chrome’s Incognito Mode Tracks You
Google, disagreeing with the ruling, maintains that Chrome sync offers clear privacy controls and that users had consented to data collection by accepting the company’s privacy policy. A recent update by Google, allowing users to access saved browsing information without enabling Chrome sync, is reportedly unrelated to the lawsuit.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over user privacy and the transparency of data collection practices, as Google faces legal challenges to its handling of user information.
