How does DuckDuckGo's data collection and retention policy compare to Google and Microsoft?
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo states it does not collect personal data, does not store IP addresses with searches, and deletes or anonymizes temporary data; the company positions itself as a privacy-first alternative to Google [1] [2]. By contrast, reporting and app privacy labels show Google’s apps collect search and location history, device identifiers and other personal data for personalization and ads [3] [4]. Microsoft’s materials describe configurable enterprise retention windows (commonly 90–180 days or custom policies) for Microsoft 365 customer data and explicit retention controls for services like Teams and OneDrive rather than a consumer-facing “we don’t collect” privacy pitch [5] [6].
1. DuckDuckGo’s public claim: “We don’t track you” — what that means
DuckDuckGo’s published privacy pages and policy repeatedly state the company doesn’t track searches or build user profiles, blocks third‑party trackers and avoids storing IP/searches tied to individuals; some new features (Duck.ai) include contractual limits on how model providers may use prompts and state deletion timelines “at most within 30 days” for anonymous requests [1] [2] [7]. Independent reviews and privacy sites echo that DuckDuckGo “does not collect personal data” and says it “forgets” queries after running them, and that when location-based results are needed it uses approximate or random locations and does not retain IPs linked to a user [8] [9] [10].
2. Google — broad collection for personalization and ads, made visible by app labels
Multiple reports and Apple privacy labels cited by DuckDuckGo show Google Search and Chrome collect search and browsing history, precise location, device identifiers, advertising-related data, and other product interaction data used to personalize services and ads; DuckDuckGo has publicly criticized Google for “hiding” these practices until labels made them visible [3] [4]. Coverage and comparison guides frame Google’s model as data‑driven personalization and ad targeting, which contrasts directly with DuckDuckGo’s “no profiling” message [11] [12].
3. Microsoft — enterprise retention controls, not a privacy‑first consumer pitch
Microsoft’s documentation focuses on data retention policies and tools for organizations: Microsoft 365 details fixed windows (for example, 90 days as an account extraction window and deletion within up to 180 days post‑subscription in some scenarios) and administrators can set retention labels/policies (e.g., 120‑day labels, configurable retention for Teams/Copilot prompts) [5] [6] [13]. That material is oriented to customers and compliance rather than advertising a “we never collect” consumer promise; retention is configurable and linked to legal/compliance needs [5] [6].
4. How retention differs from tracking: policy vs. business model
DuckDuckGo’s core claim is minimal collection and ephemeral use for service quality, so retention is largely about aggregated trends or temporary data, not long‑lived user profiles [1] [2]. Google’s collection practices feed a personalization/ad business model, which implies longer‑term profiling and cross‑service linking of identifiers; reporting shows apps explicitly list broad data types collected [3] [4]. Microsoft’s emphasis is different: it provides tools for organizations to retain or delete their users’ data to meet regulatory or operational needs, not primarily to monetize consumer behavior [5] [6].
5. Caveats, edge cases and independent scrutiny
Independent reviews note caveats: DuckDuckGo products have had controversies (e.g., historic exceptions for Microsoft trackers in the browser that were later reversed) and occasional security research has found issues that were fixed — meaning “privacy” requires continuous maintenance and isn’t absolute [14]. Also, DuckDuckGo’s optional services (email protection, Duck.ai, subscription features) require or process personal data under separate policies, and Duck.ai has stated limited deletion windows and contractual protections for model providers [1] [7]. These nuances show DuckDuckGo’s claims apply primarily to core search and blocking features, not every ancillary product [1] [7].
6. Practical takeaway for users and organizations
For individual users seeking minimal tracking and no profile‑based ads, DuckDuckGo’s public policy and independent reviews present a clear privacy advantage over Google’s ad‑driven data collection [2] [12]. For enterprises, Microsoft’s ecosystem gives admins explicit retention controls and compliance features (retention labels, policy timelines such as 90–180 days or configurable 120‑day labels) that are designed around legal and operational requirements, not consumer anonymity [5] [6]. Users should read each vendor’s specific product policies: DuckDuckGo’s core search promises limited retention and anonymization [1], Google’s app labels document broad data collection by its apps [3] [4], and Microsoft documents configurable retention windows for business data [5] [6].
Limitations: available sources do not mention exact equivalence between DuckDuckGo’s retention language and every DuckDuckGo product’s data lifecycle; they also do not provide a single table directly comparing all three companies’ retention times across identical services, so conclusions are drawn from the cited policy pages and reporting [1] [3] [5].