[howinteresting]

I as a technical user know that the assumption is wrong, and that to achieve the desired properties one needs something like the Tor Browser.

But it is still reasonable to make that assumption.

Chrome benefits from its association with Google. This means that Google should also deal with the consequences of that association.

[SpicyLemonZest]

What specifically do you argue Google should have done here? I can’t think of a name that could describe the feature without potentially misleading people who don’t understand it; the fundamental problem is that people don’t realize there’s a difference between “privacy from other people on my computer” and “privacy from other sites on the Internet”. Should they have just refused to build a privacy mode at all because they can’t provide all forms of privacy?

[bryan0]

> What specifically do you argue Google should have done here?

Google should stop tracking users when they’re in incognito mode.

[Closi]

Yeah, you’ve hit the nail on the head.

The idea you can be in Google Browsers private browsing mode that says Google Browser won’t track you but in reality Google will still track you in that mode given the chance is a huge piece of slight of hand for the average users.

[chrononaut]

> Google should stop tracking users when they’re in incognito mode.

Google (the Chrome development team) should not track users when they're in incognito mode if they even do.

However, Google (the company and its services) should not care whether a user is using incognito mode or not; Otherwise you're asking for the implementation of additional functionality beyond what incognito mode is intended to provide (ala DNT, etc), and making it specific to only Google, and not other websites, would be a strange position.

[bryan0]

It’s crazy how we’ve gotten to the point where a clear and ethical implementation of privacy features is now seen as “strange”

[Jensson]

Incognito mode is a standard browser feature, there is no reason to believe that Googles browser would work differently than others browsers. Safari calls it "Private Browsing", should that also be illegal since Apple still tracks you on websites you visit even if you have it on? It is insane to assume that every company that has a browser with this feature would sync it with all their website to disable tracking when it is on.

And often times that wouldn't even be what you want. Often you go incognito to log into another account because it creates a fresh browser instance. Doing that would be impossible if it didn't enable any form of tracking, logging in requires them to track you. Making a sensible way where incognito somehow prevented all tracking while still being functional isn't possible.

[chrononaut]

I didn't imply that a clear and ethical implementation of privacy features (or "tracking users" as what you were previously referring to) in general is now seen as strange; My point is why would should that implementation of not tracking users only apply to Google? Having it only apply to Google and its services would be strange, and just as confusing to users as the current situation you're expressing frustration about.

In your model are you satisfied with Google still applying its tracking techniques to Microsoft Edge users in Microsoft's incognito mode?

[howinteresting]

In that case, Chrome should lose all Google branding.

I'm sick of megacorps reaping all the benefits of branding but none of the downsides.

[howinteresting]

At the very least, say something like "Websites, including Google, will keep tracking you". The existing text isn't nearly as explicit about the fact that Google will keep tracking you as it should be.