DuckDuckGo started out as a search engine that focused on protecting user privacy by promising not to track or record users' searches or their behavior while doing so. DuckDuckGo has since expanded its product lineup with extensions for browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, as well as its own browser (currently available for iOS, Android and Mac), all of which emphasize the protection of user privacy in these products.
However, it's the same company that is very conscious of user privacy that recently "flipped" when security researchers found that DuckDuckGo's browser blocks Google and Facebook's trackers, but purposely allows Microsoft's tracker on third-party sites.
Security researcher Zach Edwards posted [tweet] on his personal social media, stating that during a security audit of the DuckDuckGo browser, it was found that while the DuckDuckGo browser blocked Google and Facebook trackers, it allowed Microsoft trackers to continue to operate.
I tested DuckDuckGo's so-called privacy browser for iOS and Android, but neither version prevented data transfer to Microsoft's Linkedin + Bing ads.
Thus Microsoft would be able to collect information about the user through a tracker and display ads on the browser that are relevant to the user's interests.
In response to a query from security researcher Zach Edwards about the issue, DuckDuckGo CEO and founder Gabriel Weinberg confirmed that their browser intentionally allows Microsoft to track third-party websites due to a search federation agreement with Microsoft.
We block most third-party trackers. But our joint agreement with Microsoft Search prevents us from doing more with Microsoft-owned properties.
As the story festered, Weinberg also added that they were working to remove the restriction from the agreement. However, Weinberg also made it clear that the agreement only affects their browser and does not affect the DuckDuckGo search engine.
Tracking is tracking
DuckDuckGo also posted [tweet】 half a month ago that slammed Google's "Topics" and "FLEDGE" tracking methods. In the tweet DuckDuckGo said, "Google says they (Topics and FLEDGE) are better for privacy, but the simple fact is tracking is tracking, whatever you want to call it." Now that statement has come to life on its own instead.
DuckDuckGo's revenue comes primarily from advertising, including search engine ads served through Microsoft's online advertising platform. When a consumer clicks on an ad, Microsoft does not associate the ad-clicking behavior with user information, according to a previous official presentation. As of last June, DuckDuckGo's annual revenue exceeded $100 million, its app was downloaded more than 50 million times in the past year, and its search engine had between 70 million and 100 million users.