(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) The CEO and founder of DuckDuckGo, an internet search engine, announced on Twitter Wednesday that the company will no longer provide unfiltered search results but will exclude “Russian disinformation,” Twitchy reported.
Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine️
At DuckDuckGo, we’ve been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation.
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
Weinberg did not define “Russian disinformation.”
DuckDuckGo has attracted users by emphasizing data privacy and minimizing search results that reflect the user’s personal bubble or echo chamber.
For years, DuckDuckGo stated that Google did not provide unbiased search results.
Now Weinberg has dropped the search engine’s freedom from partisan thought manipulators.
Weinberg also said DuckDuckGo will provide Facebook- or Twitter-style fact checks on search results and direct users to credible news sources.
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
Several commentators have suggested that DuckDuckGo must censor and regulate search results in order to comply with sanctions against Russia, including a European Union order that requires search engines to block Russian news services RT and Sputnik.
JUST IN: EU sanctions against Russia *require* search engines and social media companies to suppress and/or disappear Russian news outlets. pic.twitter.com/NecLji8fB8
— Election Wizard 🇺🇸 (@ElectionWiz) March 10, 2022
Weinberg concluded the Twitter thread by assuring users that DuckDuckGo’s new censorship policy will not affect its privacy policy.
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
