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DuckDuckGo: Difference between revisions

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{{Incomplete}}
{{Incomplete}}
{{ProductCargo
{{ProductCargo
|ReleaseYear=2008
|ReleaseYear=25 September 2008
|InProduction=Yes
|InProduction=Yes
|ArticleType=Product
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=Browser
|Category=Search Engine
|Logo=DuckDuckGologo.png
|Logo=DuckDuckGo logo.png
|Website=https://duckduckgo.com/
|Website=https://duckduckgo.com/
|Description=Privacy-focused browser
|Description=Privacy-focused search engine
}}DuckDuckGo, founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, is a minimalistic privacy focused browser.<ref> https://duckduckgo.com/about </ref> Additionally, DuckDuckGo also claims to offer features like encryption and tracker blocking to enhance online security.<ref> https://umatechnology.org/duckduckgo-guide-comprehensive-feature-analysis/</ref>  
}}
 
[[wikipedia:DuckDuckGo|'''DuckDuckGo''']] is an American software company focused on online privacy, and was founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg.<ref> https://duckduckgo.com/about ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260221003758/https://duckduckgo.com/about Archived])</ref> They are well-known for their search-engine, but they also made [[wikipedia:DuckDuckGo_Private_Browser|a web browser]].   


==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==
===Freedom===
===Freedom===
Despite its reputation for privacy and freedom, DuckDuckGo has had controversies regarding removed/de-ranked content, raising concerns about the extent of its unrestricted search results.<ref> https://www.pcmag.com/news/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation</ref><ref> https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/</ref>
DuckDuckGo had removed/de-ranked certain content, raising concerns about the extent of its unrestricted search results.<ref> https://www.pcmag.com/news/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251219094650/https://www.pcmag.com/news/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation Archived])</ref><ref> https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260213130023/https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/ Archived])</ref>


===Privacy===
===Privacy===
While it’s user privacy is significantly better than most other mainstream browsers, DuckDuckGo has been involved in controversies in regards to discrimination in blocking trackers.<ref> https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/</ref>
DuckDuckGo has had moments of questionable privacy. Examples of this include the incident where DuckDuckGo browser had specifically allowed Microsoft trackers to continue running, while blocking others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |date=24 May 2022 |title=DuckDuckGo browser allows Microsoft trackers due to search agreement |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108060825/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/ |archive-date=8 Jan 2026 |access-date=25 Mar 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref>


===Business model===
===Business model===
DuckDuckGo primarily generates revenue through keyword-based advertising.<ref> https://umatechnology.org/the-truth-about-duckduckgo-monetization/</ref> In addition to this, DuckDuckGo also earns income from subscription fees paid to access its Privacy Pro feature.<ref> https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy-pro </ref>
DuckDuckGo primarily generates revenue through showing ads in the search results. The advertisements are only indicative of the keywords used in the search.<ref> https://umatechnology.org/the-truth-about-duckduckgo-monetization/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250904213253/https://umatechnology.org/the-truth-about-duckduckgo-monetization/ Archived])</ref> In addition to this, DuckDuckGo also earns income from subscription fees paid to access its Privacy Pro feature.<ref> https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy-pro ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260111074925/https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy-pro Archived])</ref> This subscription sells DuckDuckGo VPN, Personal Information Removal, Identity Theft Restoration, and Advanced AI models.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinberg |first=Gabriel |date=4 Sep 2025 |title=The DuckDuckGo subscription now includes more advanced AI chat models, along with VPN & more |url=https://spreadprivacy.com/ai-subscription/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |website=spreadprivacy.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260103124138/https://spreadprivacy.com/ai-subscription/ |archive-date=3 Jan 2026}}</ref>


===Market control===
===Market control===
DuckDuckGo is a relatively niche browser in comparison to behemoths in the space such as [[Google]], and to a lesser degree, [[Bing]].<ref> https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220046/duckduckgo-search-engine-market-share-by-region/</ref> However, when compared to other privacy-focused browsers DuckDuckGo fares pretty well against competition.
According to Statista, DuckDuckGo takes up around 2% of the U.S. search engine market. More prevalent search engines such as [[Google]], and to a lesser degree, [[Bing]], take up most of the search engine market.<ref>https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220046/duckduckgo-search-engine-market-share-by-region/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251124230236/https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220046/duckduckgo-search-engine-market-share-by-region/ Archived])</ref> However, when compared to other privacy-focused search engines DuckDuckGo is one of the most prevalent.<ref>https://www.cloudwards.net/search-engine-statistics/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250914154000/https://www.cloudwards.net/search-engine-statistics/ Archived])</ref>


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


===Political Censorship (3/1/2025)===
===Piracy censorship (''2022'')===
 
DuckDuckGo had removed the search results for numerous popular [[wikipedia:Online_piracy|pirate]] websites, including The Pirate Bay, 1337x, and Fmovies. DuckDuckGo responded that it was not intentional and the source of the issues was with [[Bing]]'s data. The search results for the mentioned website were restored by 19 April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |title=DuckDuckGo ‘Removes’ Pirate Sites and YouTube-DL from Its Search Results (Updated) |url=https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/ |website=TorrentFreak |date=15 Apr 2022 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419151120/https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/ |archive-date=19 Apr 2022}}</ref> Many websites that could be considered questionable remained unsearchable, however, raising concerns about smaller search engines' reliance on data from Bing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |title=DuckDuckGo ‘Restores’ Pirate Sites and Points to Bing as Culprit |url=https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-restores-pirate-sites-and-points-to-bing-220419/ |website=TorrentFreak |date=19 Apr 2022 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419102608/https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-restores-pirate-sites-and-points-to-bing-220419/ |archive-date=19 Apr 2022}}</ref>
:''Main article: [https://www.pcmag.com/news/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation link to the main article]''
DuckDuckGo’s owner announced that the search engine would be de-ranking websites deemed to  spread Russian misinformation.  
 
===Piracy Censorship (4/15/2022)===


:''Main article: [https://torrentfreak.com/duckduckgo-removes-pirate-sites-and-youtube-dl-from-its-search-results-220415/ link to the main article]''
&emsp;''See also: [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]]''
DuckDuckGo has completely removed the search results for numerous popular pirate websites, including The Pirate Bay, 1337x, and Fmovies.


===Tracking Block Bias (5/22/2022)===
===Tracking block bias (''2022'')===
In May 2022, it was discovered that DuckDuckGo's privacy browser allowed Microsoft trackers on third-party websites due to a search syndication agreement with [[Microsoft]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |title=DuckDuckGo browser allows Microsoft trackers due to search agreement |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/ |website=Bleeping Computer |date=24 May 2022 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525123251/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/ |archive-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> However, this changed in August 2022 when DuckDuckGo's contract with Microsoft expired, and Microsoft's tracking was also blocked.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinberg |first=Gabriel |title=More Privacy and Transparency for DuckDuckGo Web Tracking Protections |url=https://spreadprivacy.com/more-privacy-and-transparency/ |website=Spread Privacy: The Official DuckDuckGo Blog |date=5 Aug 2022 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805185059/https://spreadprivacy.com/more-privacy-and-transparency/ |archive-date=5 Aug 2022}}</ref>


:''Main article: [https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/duckduckgo-browser-allows-microsoft-trackers-due-to-search-agreement/ link to the main article]''
===Political censorship (''2022'')<!-- Updated the time of incident to what the source is saying -->===
 
DuckDuckGo's owner announced that the search engine would be de-ranking websites deemed to spread Russian misinformation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kan |first=Michael |title=DuckDuckGo to Down-Rank Sites Associated With Russian Disinformation |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation |website=PCMag |date=10 Mar 2022 |access-date=21 Nov 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310194537/https://uk.pcmag.com/software-services/139164/duckduckgo-to-down-rank-sites-associated-with-russian-disinformation |archive-date=10 Mar 2022}}</ref>
DuckDuckGo's privacy browser allows Microsoft trackers on third-party websites due to a search syndication agreement with Microsoft. However, this changed in August when DuckDuckGo’s contract with Microsoft expired, and Microsoft’s tracking was also blocked.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Bing]]
*[[Brave browser|Brave]]
*[[Google]]
*[[Google]]
*[[Bing]]
*[[Yandex]]
*[[Yandex]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:DuckDuckGo]]
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