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Can third parties (Apple, Mozilla) see query contents when using DuckDuckGo as default search engine?
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo positions itself as a “privacy-first” search engine that says it does not connect queries to user identities and routes many features through its own service so ISPs can’t see requested content [1]. Available sources here do not include Apple or Mozilla statements about whether those companies can read query contents when DuckDuckGo is set as the default; reporting focuses on DuckDuckGo’s claims and traffic stats rather than platform-level access [2] [1].
1. What DuckDuckGo says about query privacy — company position
DuckDuckGo’s published reviews and explainers emphasize that it “forgets your search query as soon as it runs” and “doesn’t connect any queries with specific user identities,” and that localized search results and content previews are served through DuckDuckGo so your ISP can’t see that you requested them [1]. Those descriptions are framed as the search engine’s core privacy promise rather than a technical audit of every integration [1].
2. Third-party platform access — what the provided sources do and don’t say
The collected sources summarize DuckDuckGo’s privacy posture and growth metrics [2] [1] but do not report explicit technical or legal statements from Apple or Mozilla about whether those companies can see query contents when DuckDuckGo is the default. In short: available sources do not mention Apple or Mozilla seeing users’ DuckDuckGo query contents when the engine is set as default [2] [1].
3. Why the question matters — multiple technical paths to visibility
There are multiple distinct ways a third party could see queries in principle: the operating system or browser could log or proxy requests; DNS or network intermediaries could expose destinations and unencrypted query text; or browser extensions and bundled services might capture input. The sources here note that DuckDuckGo routes certain features through its servers to prevent ISP visibility and that URLs may not always be encrypted in some contexts — but they don’t map those statements to Apple or Mozilla behaviours [1].
4. DuckDuckGo’s limitations, per available reporting
A review notes caveats: DuckDuckGo “collects data on search trends” though not linked to identities, and certain features (like Bang shortcuts that send queries to other mainstream engines) can lose privacy protections because the query “goes through the mainstream search engines” [1]. The review also mentions a potential technical issue about URL encryption making visited sites “theoretically visible to your ISP,” highlighting boundaries to the protection DuckDuckGo provides [1].
5. Platform default vs. query handling — distinctions you should track
Setting DuckDuckGo as a browser or OS default is largely a configuration choice; it doesn’t by itself prove what Apple or Mozilla can or cannot access. The sources explain DuckDuckGo’s internal handling of queries but do not supply evidence on whether Apple or Mozilla log, proxy, or otherwise have access to users’ DuckDuckGo query payloads when the engine is default — so we cannot assert either way from these materials [1].
6. Practical takeaways and how to investigate further
Based on the available reporting, a cautious user should: rely on DuckDuckGo’s stated practices but be aware of exceptions (Bangs, possible URL exposure) described by DuckDuckGo reviewers [1]; seek primary documentation from Apple and Mozilla about default-search integrations and telemetry (not found in current reporting); and consider technical checks (packet/DNS inspection on your device or using an audited VPN) if you need proof of who sees query text. Current sources do not include platform policies or audits for Apple or Mozilla regarding defaults [1].
7. Conflicting viewpoints and gaps in coverage
The sources agree on DuckDuckGo’s privacy claims and growth metrics [2] [1]. However, they do not include counterclaims, independent audits, or platform-level disclosures from Apple or Mozilla that would confirm or refute whether those companies can access query contents when DuckDuckGo is default. That absence is a critical gap: available sources do not mention Apple or Mozilla access or offer third-party verification [2] [1].
Conclusion: DuckDuckGo states it does not link queries to identities and routes many requests through its own servers to limit ISP visibility [1], but the reporting provided here does not address whether Apple or Mozilla can see query contents when DuckDuckGo is set as the default. To resolve that specific question you will need primary documentation or technical audit reports from Apple, Mozilla, or independent investigators — documents not present in the supplied sources [1] [2].