This NY times article brings up some very real concerns that need to be looked into: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/technology/google-sued-wiretap-privacy.html
There is no part of any of Google’s warnings that explicitly allows Google to collect your browsing history, but there are loopholes in the wording.
The first loophole is the “Websites you visit” portion. What is happening is that Google provides tools to website publishers for analytics and for ad revenue, and that information IS collected by Google. Ok, maybe this is a little sleazy, but it’s a clear warning and is not hidden in any way. Ultimately, you just have to read what’s on your screen.
The second loophole is the one that concerns me the most. This is the one regarding the “Search engines” portion. There is a lack of clarity here, because the message states that search engines may show suggestions based on your location or your activity in your current browsing session. And this is what leads me to my most important questions. Hopefully this will all be brought to light through the legal process:
- Does Google tie any of this info collected from your incognito web searches to your Google profile even if you have not logged into your Google account within your incognito session?
- If you use a search such as DuckDuckGo does Google still record your web searches?
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, Google may be in trouble!
Here is the exact wording they’re using on the main Incognito page.
“You’ve gone incognito.
Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved.
Chrome won’t save the following information:
* Your browsing history
* Cookies and site data
* Information entered in forms
Your activity might still be visible to:
* Websites you visit
* Your employer or school
* Your internet service provider
Learn More”
The Learn More link takes you to this document:
” Your activity might still be visible
Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your browsing activity to your local history. Your activity, like your location, might still be visible to:
* Websites you visit, including the ads and resources on those sites
* Websites you sign in to
* Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using
* Your internet service provider
* Search engines.
Search engines may show search suggestions based on your location or activity in your current Incognito browsing session.
Some of your info might still be visible
A web service, website, search engine, or provider may be able to see:
* Your IP address, which can be used to identify your general location
* Your activity when you use a web service
* Your identity if you sign in to a web service, like Gmail
You can still find and use your payment, password, and contact info, but you can’t change your saved info in a Chrome Incognito window
Downloads and bookmarks are saved
Chrome won’t store the files you downloaded while browsing in private. But, they’re still saved to your Downloads folder, even after you exit Incognito. You and anyone who uses your device can see and open the files.
All bookmarks you create are saved to Chrome.
Some of your preferences, including accessibility choices and bookmark settings, may also be saved to Chrome.
Android
You can switch between incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs. You’ll only browse in private when you’re using an Incognito tab.
Hoy Manor 