Incognito mode is not 100% private as your ISP can still see your activity and can also give your online activity and search results to the FBI or law enforcement with a warrant.
But as long as you're not searching illegal things or up to no good then you should be just fine.
The FBI can see incognito mode with a warrant.
Using incognito mode only prevents your web browser from saving any local search history and cookies, but your activity and searches are still visible and available to your internet service provider and law enforcement and the FBI can get a warrant and obtain the data through the warrant.
Incognito mode only hides your browsing activity from users of the same device, but incognito mode does not store your history, cookies, or site data after the browser window is closed and incognito mode does not hide your IP address or protect you from your ISP or websites.
And even websites and services that you log into can still track you, regardless of the browser mode you're using and even skilled investigators can often find evidence of browsing activity on your device through other means, even if the incognito mode is used.
You cannot go to jail just for simply searching inappropriate things, although searching inappropriate things can get you on a watchlist and possibly get you investigated, especially if the searches are for things that could be seen as you planning on doing something bad.
If the searches are found to be searches that they believe that you plan on doing something illegal like terrorism, bomb making etc then you could go to jail.
Certain internet searches can get you on a watchlist, especially if the searches are for illegal activities and are done repeatedly.
Internet searches for information on illegal things like child pornography, child exploitation, terrorism or even how to make a bomb or how to blow something, up or even posting threats on social media can get you on a watchlist, which could even result in the police visiting you at your house and even possibly confiscating your computers and devices.
Common search terms that can trigger concern and trigger you to get on a watchlist are searches related to terrorism, like terroristic activities, plans for terrorism or recruitment for terrorism as well as searches for child exploitation, child pornography or other related terms and even searches for how to make a bomb, how to hire a hitman, how to murder someone, searches for buying illegal things or substances or even selling these illegal substances or things.
Also searching for illegal downloading of copyright materials and exploring illegal marketplaces or forums on the darkweb could get you on a watchlist.
Government agencies and law enforcement are also now using advanced AI and algorithms to identify suspicious activity online.
Search history can still be linked to you, even if you're using a public computer or someone else's computer or device, especially if you're signed into your google account.
Google searches that can get you flagged are searching for things such as bomb making, illegal downloads, terrorism, and child pornography.
Searching Google search for the words terrorism and child pornography once or a few times is unlikely to get you flagged and get you into trouble as it could be seen as you just seeking out the terms for knowledge and not for ill intent.
But if you search for these terms often then it could get you lagged.
Other Google searches that could get you flagged are terms such as child exploitation and even hacking.
Deleting your browsing history is not a crime unless you had searched with intent for illegal things and you deleted the browsing history to tamper with evidence.
If you delete browsing history after being charged with a crime or being investigated with a crime then it can be illegal to delete that browsing history and be charged as tampering with evidence.
Even when you delete your browsing history, it can often still be found through Googles records or even through forensic software.
Search history is not ever truly deleted even when you delete your search history from your computer or devices as Google and other search engines keep your search history in their systems for a certain amount of time in case they have to give it to law enforcement.
While you can delete your search history from your browser and computer or device, it still remains with Google and other search engines that you used.
The FBI can see your deleted search history through use of forensic software, which can recover deleted files in most cases.
The FBI can also issue a subpoena to your internet service provider or Google or any other search engine company you used to get the search history.
Deleting your search history only deletes the search history from your computer or device, but not from the search engines system itself.
Your ISP also has records on file that they keep for a certain time of your search history and any files you may have downloaded or websites you viewed.
The forensic software that FBI and law enforcement use can scan your devices for data that has not been overwritten and so they can recover a wide range deleted data including your search history.
Police can see Google searches if the police have a warrant or subpoena and submit that warrant or subpoena to Google to access your searches.
Or if Google detects illegal images on your Gmail account or in your Google drive or Google account through automatic systems, then Google can and often will report your account to law enforcement and they will then look into your searches and data and if they find something illegal they will show up at your door eventually with a warrant to seize your devices, search your home and possibly arrest you.
You can get into trouble for googling illegal things, although it will depend on what you're actually searching that is illegal.
Simply googling some illegal things won't always get you into trouble.
Although if you google something like Child Porn and your intent is to find and look at and save that child porn then you can get into trouble.
Google also has systems in place that can automatically detect potential child porn content even when it's sent through their Gmail service.
If google detects child porn or possible child porn being sent through your Gmail account or you save child porn or trade child porn or other illegal things on your google account including google drive account they will contact authorities.
Although simply Googling the term child pornography is not illegal in itself.
As someone searching the term child pornography may be simply trying to find out about how to report the child porn or looking on the law about it.
Also while viewing and or possessing child porn is also illegal, you won't always get into trouble if you happen to stumble upon child porn.
There has to be intent.
Also searching for tools or even guides for engaging in cybercrimes such as hacking is also illegal.
And even if your search intent is not malicious, searching for topics like how to make a homemade bomb, etc can also trigger an investigation and can place you on a watch list.
Police can also obtain a warrant to access your search history from Google or your ISP and they can provide that even if you delete your search history or destroy your device or computer.
Some keywords and phrases can also sometimes trigger automatic flags from law enforcement in some cases.