What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
No—Google did not pay Incognito users $5 billion. That was the amount plaintiffs sought in a 2020 privacy lawsuit. The settlement provides no class-member cash payments; its main terms concern privacy disclosures, certain retained data, and cookie blocking in Incognito. A separate claim that the relief was worth more than $5 billion came from plaintiffs’ counsel, not a court finding.
Why Google was sued over Incognito
The 2020 class action alleged that Google collected and used browsing data from people using Chrome’s Incognito mode and similar private-browsing modes in other browsers. Plaintiffs argued that Google’s representations misled users about what data would be collected during private browsing. Those were allegations, not findings after a trial. The Associated Press reported that plaintiffs sought $5 billion. Associated Press, Dec. 30, 2023
What the $5 billion figure does—and does not—mean
| Figure or outcome | What it represents |
|---|---|
| $5 billion sought | The amount plaintiffs originally sought, as reported by the Associated Press in December 2023. It was not an amount awarded to consumers. Source |
| Over $5 billion in claimed relief value | In a 2024 motion for final approval, plaintiffs’ counsel said an expert’s valuation methods put the value of relief obtained through the litigation and settlement above $5 billion. This was plaintiffs’ advocacy position, not a cash fund or judicial finding. Plaintiffs’ motion |
| No class-member cash payment | The Associated Press’s April 1, 2024 account of the filed agreement said consumers represented by the class would receive no damages or other payments under the settlement. Associated Press, Apr. 1, 2024 |
| Billions of records affected | Google estimated that remediation and deletion would affect billions of event records. That estimate in the agreement is a record count, not a number of users or a dollar valuation, and was not described as independently audited. Settlement agreement |
So if you are asking whether Google paid you—or owes you a share of $5 billion—this settlement does not provide a class-member payout.
What the settlement agreement provides
Clearer Incognito disclosures
The agreement calls for Google to clarify that Incognito does not change how websites and services, including Google, collect data, and to explain that activity may be visible to visited websites and third-party resources. It also calls for updates to relevant privacy disclosures. The agreed Incognito-screen language says: “Incognito mode won’t change how data is collected by websites you visit and the services they use, including Google.” Settlement agreement filed Apr. 1, 2024
#1 Best Overall
- [2 Pack] This product includes 2 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector.Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.[Not for iPhone 16 6.1 inch, iPhone 13 mini 5.4 inch, iPhone 13 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Plus 6.7 inch, iPhone 14 Pro 6.1 inch]
- Specialty: to enhance compatibility with most cases, the Tempered glass does not cover the entire screen. HD ultra-clear rounded glass for iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
Changes to certain retained data
The agreement describes changes to specified logs, including generalizing user-agent strings, deleting detailed URLs and a client-data header value, and shortening retention periods for certain logs. These terms concern particular data and logs; they do not establish that all browsing data was deleted. Google’s estimate that billions of event records would be affected is the agreement’s estimate, not an independently audited total.
Third-party-cookie blocking in Incognito
The agreement provides for maintaining third-party-cookie blocking in Incognito for five years following final approval. It allows modifications needed to comply with legal or regulatory requirements or to reflect changes in Google’s policies, practices, or technology. Data may also be preserved when required by law or court order.
Rank #2
- Perfect Fit for iPhone 17 Pro Max：Engineered exclusively for iPhone 17 Pro Max with seamless edge-to-edge coverage, ensuring precise alignment and reliable full-screen protection.
- Advanced Privacy Protection：Features a 28° privacy filter with smooth 2.5D curved edges, preventing side glances in public. Your screen remains visible only to you—ideal for commuting, traveling, and crowded environments.
- Effortless Installation：Equipped with an auto dust-elimination tool that delivers a fast, accurate, and bubble-free application, keeping your screen perfectly clear with minimal effort.
- Military-Grade Protection：Made of nano-reinforced 9H tempered glass, SGS certified. Provides 5X stronger scratch resistance and proven durability, withstanding thousands of pressure and impact tests.
- Smudge & Fingerprint Resistant：Hydrophobic and oleophobic coating repels fingerprints, sweat, and oil—ensuring your screen stays clean, clear, and smooth to the touch.
The agreement describes what Google undertook to do. The sources cited here do not establish the exact final-approval date or confirm that every remedy has been completed, so the terms should not be treated as proof of implementation.
Why the settlement is about privacy relief, not a damages fund
The case involved different kinds of relief. The district court certified a class seeking injunctive relief—changes to practices or disclosures—but declined to certify a damages class. The Ninth Circuit later summarized the distinction: “The district court certified an injunctive relief class but denied a damages class.” Ninth Circuit, Brown v. Salcido, No. 24-5692, Apr. 20, 2026
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- [3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector. Due to the rounded edge design of the iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro and to enhance compatibility with most cases,the tempered glass screen protectors will be slightly smaller than the phone screen.[Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 15 Plus/iPhone 15 Pro Max/iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch,iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch,iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch]
- Specialty: HD rounded glass for iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
- 99.99% High-definition hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
The settlement resolved the certified injunctive claim. Under the agreement, the named plaintiffs could pursue individual damages in arbitration and waived their right to appeal the denial of a damages class. The agreement said absent class members did not release damages claims or waive appeal rights through that settlement provision. These procedural rights are separate from the settlement’s lack of a class-wide payment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Google said about the settlement
Google’s statements reported by the Associated Press were its position, not admissions of liability. The company said, “We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless,” and described records slated for deletion as “old personal technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization.” Associated Press, Apr. 1, 2024
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Industry-Leading 100% Anti-Spy Privacy Protection】Designed for iPhone 17 Pro Max. Larger iPhone screens are easier for others to glance at, so UltraGlass uses patented, SEGI-certified 25° Blackout-3 optical technology to help block side views and keep emails, banking apps, and private content visible only to you—while keeping the front view HD-clear and comfortable through hours of scrolling and streaming.
- 【Unbreakable TOP 9H+ Glass, the Excellent 2nd Screen for Your iPhone】Boasting unparalleled shatter resistance and durability. And the core excellence is the top 9H+ tempered glass material, which is widely applied in aerospace and military fields for its ① Shatter-proof ② Scratch & Wear Resistance ③ Durability that is 7-8 times higher than other materials. Thus, UltraGlass builds a second tough screen for your iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- 【Industry NO.1 Military-Grade Shatterproof】Authorized by the International Military Standard with 50+ rigorous engineering tests of 220 lbs impact, 8,000+ drop tests, 25,000+ scratch tests, etc., its strength, toughness and durability perform NO.1 among all glass. By especially breaking the industry's record with a 12ft drop, the iPhone 17 Pro Max screen protector is ensured to be unbreakable from its surface to every edge and corner.
- 【Invisible Armor, 1:1 Full Covers the iPhone's Screen】Mimicking the iPhone's original screen design, it uses a 1:1 3D curved reinforced black edge that wraps around every curve — case friendly — while securing even the most vulnerable edges. Seamlessly blending with the iPhone 17 ProMax screen, it's virtually invisible and feels like the original screen while offering enhanced full-screen protection.
- 【0 Bubbles + 0 Dust + 0 Misaligned =100% Successful Installation】Includes everything you need with pioneering automatic positioning, dust removal, and absorption technology, making the installation just effortlessly easy in seconds. No bubbles, no troubles—transforming beginners into experts!
Rank #4
- [3+3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors and 3 pack camera lens protectors with Installation Frame. Works For iPhone 16 [6.1 inch] tempered glass screen protector and camera lens protector. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps. [Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch, iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch, iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch]
- Night shooting function: specially designed iPhone 16 6.1 Inch camera lens protective film. The camera lens protector adopts the new technology of "seamless" integration of augmented reality, with light transmittance and night shooting function, without the need to design the flash hole position, when the flash is turned on at night, the original quality of photos and videos can be restored.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers, screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen. Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions. (Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Easiest Installation - Please watch our installation video tutorial before installation. Removing dust and aligning it properly with the help of the included installation frame before actual installation, enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints, and enhance the visibility of the screen.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
