complaint calls them “cookie blockers.” The cookie blockers
of two browsers are at issue in this case. One is Microsoft’s
Internet Explorer, which featured an “opt-in” cookie blocker
that a user could elect to activate. The other is Apple’s Safari
browser, which featured an “opt-out” cookie blocker that was
activated by default. The complaint notes that the main Apple
website page dedicated to Safari advertised its opt-out cookie
blocker as a unique feature, stating that, “to better protect[]
your privacy[,] Safari accepts cookies only from the websites
you visit.”4 Likewise, the Safari browser labeled its default
cookie setting as “Block cookies: From third parties and
advertisers.”5
According to the complaint, the Safari and Internet
Explorer cookie blockers were well-known to industry
participants, including as to their existence, functionality, and
purpose. More is alleged about Google in particular. Google’s
Privacy Policy explained that “most browsers are initially set
up to accept cookies, but you can reset your browser to refuse
all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent.”6
Google provided further assurances about the Safari cookie
blocker specifically. Google offered a proprietary cookie
blocker, a so-called “opt-out cookie” that, when downloaded,
would prevent the installation of tracking cookies. On the
public webpage Google maintained to describe its opt-out
cookie, Google assured visitors that “Safari is set by default
4
Compl. ¶ 69.
5
Compl. ¶ 71.
6
Compl. ¶ 80.
8