When people hope to keep their internet browsing away from others’ eyes, a lot of people turn to private browser windows, or “incognito” mode. For example, while shopping for a present for their spouse on a shared computer or researching information when considering a divorce, using a private browser could be a good idea.
However, many people rely too much on private browser windows, especially when they’re concerned about police intrusion.
They are not nearly as private as you think
The police can ask a court to subpoena a provider to access the information a person was trying to hide when browsing in a private window. For example, they could subpoena Meta to access messages exchanged about a planned robbery on Messenger. Or they could subpoena Google if they suspect a person had been researching the layout of the building they planned to hold up, or purchasing equipment online to carry out the robbery.
Even innocent activities can sometimes work against you
Maybe you were online researching the history of civil disobedience or protests. The police wrongly suspect you were involved in organizing a recent action and, upon gaining access to your browser history, use what they find in a case against you.
Remember, a private browser window just stops others who access that particular device from seeing what you have been looking at. There is almost always still a record of your activity elsewhere. Learning more about your rights and options is wise if you suspect you are under criminal investigation.