Google employees make fun of incognito mode

The so-called incognito mode is intended to guarantee Google users more privacy when surfing the Internet. But now it turns out that even Google employees think the function is a joke. The backgrounds.

Surfing the internet anonymously is very important to many users. Meanwhile, Google’s incognito mode is supposed to provide the necessary privacy.

Bloomberg However, it has now seen court documents showing that even Google employees have poked fun at the feature’s inadequate and misleading protection for the past several years.

Google employees compare incognito mode with Simpsons character

media reports For example, according to an employee, a Wikipedia entry for the “Guy Incognito” page was posted. The character from the TV show “The Simpsons” is based on Homer Simpson and differs from the main character only in terms of a mustache.

The less complex disguise therefore conveys exactly the degree of privacy that Google’s incognito mode offers. A person responsible for Google’s Chrome products allegedly even suggested changing the start page to say “You are NOT protected from Google”.

In 2018, a Google engineer also called for the mode to no longer be called incognito. Google should also no longer use the exemplary Spy Guy symbol. As per the court documents, Google rejected the proposed changes.

Marketing boss doesn’t know how to promote incognito mode

Last year, Alphabet’s CEO Sundai Pichai received an email from Google Marketing boss Lorraine Twohill on International Data Privacy Day. She demanded that privacy mode should actually be made private.

In addition, Twohill has difficulty promoting the feature in its current state. She warned that she was being forced to use vague and defensive language that could ultimately hurt consumer confidence.

Employee jokes released in class action lawsuit

The fact that even Google employees think incognito mode is a joke comes to light amid an ongoing multi-billion-dollar class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs allege that Google tracked them while using the privacy feature.

Incognito mode hides Google Chrome users’ search history from other users of the same device while browsing the web. However, it does not prevent the company or its advertising partners from recording the corresponding search history and benefiting from it.

The plaintiffs, in turn, argue that the branding and communication give the impression that users’ privacy is better protected.

Google rejects allegations

So far, Google has denied the allegations. Incognito mode offers a private browsing experience. The company also clearly explained how the feature works. The plaintiffs would misrepresent the statements.

In fact, the home page provides important details about the limitations of the feature. Users can also find more information about the feature by clicking on the “Learn more” tab. However, studies in the past have shown that these instructions do not really reach consumers.

A study by the University of Chicago and Leibniz University in Hanover, for example, showed that more than 40 percent of those surveyed believe that their whereabouts remain secret when surfing in private mode. 22.6 percent of users are even convinced that the incognito mode even protects them from the government.

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