While we commend the class action attorneys and class representatives for bringing the Google Incognito deception to light, the result of that dispute is alarming in that it shows how far Google and other high-tech companies have and continue to put profits above customers.
The Allegations
In 2020, a California class action lawsuit accused Google of secretly collecting data from users who relied on Incognito Mode for privacy protection. The lawsuit claimed that Google’s privacy assurances were a sham. Customers felt betrayed and violated. The Class Action Complaint alleged that Google had deceived millions.
Hidden Evidence
We are especially troubled by allegations that Google, during the lawsuit, failed to disclose key employees and data in its possession that were relevant to the dispute. Though some court records related to this issue are not public, it appears that the Court agreed with the Class Action attorneys that Google was not behaving properly with respect to the evidence it was not turning over to the class action attorneys.
The Settlement
Late last year, the parties reached a settlement. Although Google agreed to delete the data it deceptively gathered and be more transparent going forward, Google did not pay any money to the class members (though class members retained the right to sue Google individually).
Protect and Pursue Your Rights
What troubles our law firm is that Google deceived millions of customers, profited greatly from that deception, refused to behave properly during the court proceedings, and now settles without paying any money to any victims.
This shows how far we still need to go to pursue tech giants in order to begin to hold them accountable and financially motivate them to provide a reasonable standard of care to their own client base.
Vernon Litigation is a Naples, Florida based law firm that represents clients all over the country in complex business and investment disputes, including technology related disputes against tech giants and financial institutions for failing to adequately protect their own clients and customers from cyber thieves and cryptocurrency scammers. Our law firm’s strategic and creative approach to litigation, directness with clients, the courts, arbitrators, and opposing counsel, as well as our recognitions set Vernon Litigation apart.
If you have suffered significant damage from being exploited by a company like Google, Apple, Coinbase, Crypto.com, or other tech-based companies, contact our law firm for a confidential and cost-free consultation.
Contact Vernon Litigation Group online or give us a call at (239) 319-4434.