The latter posited itself as a much more 'free' platform and far more committed to protecting users' privacy, while Google literally vacuums every crumb of user activity so it can target Internet surfers with ads and other 'select' content.
But it appears as though the deep state has now infiltrated DuckDuckGo as well, as noted by an announcement from the search engine company this past week which said the platform will become "downgrading" -- i.e., censoring -- sites deemed to be pushing "disinformation." As you know, "disinformation" is just code for shutting down sites publishing facts and views that have not been 'approved' by the powers that be.
In a recent Twitter post, the CEO of privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo announced that the company would be downranking “sites associated with disinformation,” which has been a popular tactic by Google for years to reduce user access to content it considers objectionable.
DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg tweeted about the decision, stating that it was an effort to reduce Russian disinformation online.
“Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine?,” Weinberg stated, adding: “At DuckDuckGo, we’ve been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation.”
Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine?
At DuckDuckGo, we've been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation.
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
"In addition to down-ranking sites associated with disinformation, we also often place news modules and information boxes at the top of DuckDuckGo search results (where they are seen and clicked the most) to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics," he continued.
In addition to down-ranking sites associated with disinformation, we also often place news modules and information boxes at the top of DuckDuckGo search results (where they are seen and clicked the most) to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics.
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
"DuckDuckGo's mission is to make simple privacy protection accessible to all. Privacy is a human right and transcends politics, which is why about 100 million people around the world use DuckDuckGo. (We don't have an exact count since we don't track people.)" Weinberg noted further.
DuckDuckGo's mission is to make simple privacy protection accessible to all. Privacy is a human right and transcends politics, which is why about 100 million people around the world use DuckDuckGo. (We don't have an exact count since we don't track people.)
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
Needless to say, the announcement was met with mocking and derision online.
Dumped DDG today. So what are the alternatives people? Back to chrome??
— Dan (@DBDAN61) March 10, 2022
Now you're just Google with less brand recognition.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 10, 2022
Please don't play this game. People understand if it's a Russian source or a Ukrainian source or an American source. We don't need babysitting, we need transparency on what is actually being argued. We will figure out if it's BS, we don't need Corporate America to do it for us.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 11, 2022
Disinformation like the Russian bounty story? Or that drone strike that killed kids? Or Jussie Smollette? Or the Covington kids hoax?
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 10, 2022
So you’re actively shaping search results for political reasons? Isn’t that exactly your differentiation from Google? What else are you hiding from the results?
— Frank Jonen (@frankjonen) March 10, 2022
Will you commit to transparency and tell your customers what sites are considered “Russian disinformation?”
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.substack.com (@JordanSchachtel) March 10, 2022
If Weinberg did not see this massive backlash coming, then he has no business running DuckDuckGo.
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