DuckDuckGo faces backlash over its privacy policy exceptions - Here's why

DuckDuckGo promotes itself as an anonymous alternative to Google. However, there's a glitch in its claims. The internal browser permits Microsoft to track its users' activities, which has surprised many users.
Google is dominating the search engine markets today. It's almost like one can no longer function without it in everyday life. But this popular search engine is often the target of criticism owing to its data-gathering features and policies.

The DuckDuckGo is looked upon as an alternative to Google to protect users' privacy. DuckDuckGo is an internet search company founded in 2008. It advertises itself as a service to keep searchers' privacy and prevent a filter of personalized search results.

When a security researcher, Zach Edwards, took a deeper look into it and found that not everything was as it seemed when it comes to searchers' privacy in the DuckDuckGo browser.

Zach Edwards discovered that while DuckDuckGo blocks the Google and Facebook trackers, it allows the trackers of Microsoft owned Bing and LinkedIn to track searchers' activities on the browser. Bing delivers the search index used by DuckDuckGo.

DuckDuckGo's founder and CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, admitted that they could not block its trackers as per Microsoft's agreement. He further added that the company would be talking with Microsoft about modifying the clauses in the contract to maintain users' privacy and confidentiality.

The browser purposely allows third-party Microsoft trackers due to an agreement with Redmond. Gabriel Weinberg has also said that more measures will be put in place to stop third-party trackers associated with Microsoft.

As of now, Microsoft seems to have the upper hand with the agreements and their clauses for tracking. If your trust is shaky at this point with DuckDuckGo, there are other alternatives you can go for. According to CHIP, you can continue using DuckDuckGo if it modifies the tracker's list and has no need for a Redmond ad tracker.