SAN FRANCISCO - Google has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of spying on users who relied on the "incognito" mode in its Chrome browser, as well as similar "private" modes in other browsers, to protect their internet privacy.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2020, alleged that Google misled users by giving them the false impression that their internet activities would not be tracked while using the incognito mode. Despite this assurance, the lawsuit claimed that Google's advertising technologies and other methods continued to catalog users' site visits and activities, violating their privacy.

Additionally, the plaintiffs argued that Google's actions resulted in the accumulation of a vast amount of unauthorized information about users who believed their privacy was being safeguarded.

The terms of the settlement, which was reached on Thursday, were not disclosed. However, the initial lawsuit sought $5 billion in damages on behalf of affected users. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs have stated that they intend to present a final settlement agreement to the court by February 24th, pending approval by a federal judge.

Google has not yet provided a comment regarding the settlement.

The settlement marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over user privacy rights in the digital era. As individuals increasingly turn to private browsing modes to protect their online activities, this case highlights the importance of trust and transparency between tech companies and their users.

The final resolution of this lawsuit will set a precedent for other companies offering similar privacy features, impacting the way they communicate their data collection practices to users.