Index/Topics/DuckDuckGo privacy controversies

DuckDuckGo privacy controversies

DuckDuckGo has faced criticism for allowing Microsoft trackers in some contexts, undermining its privacy promises

Fact-Checks

5 results
Jan 17, 2026
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Does DuckDuckGo have an agreement with Microsoft

Yes—DuckDuckGo has a commercial syndication and advertising relationship with Microsoft that has been explicitly acknowledged by both companies and reported by multiple outlets; that agreement histori...

Jan 13, 2026
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What evidence exists about DuckDuckGo’s Microsoft partnerships and their practical impact on tracker exposure in the DuckDuckGo browser?

A clear record of reporting and company statements shows DuckDuckGo’s commercial relationship with Microsoft created a measurable exception in its tracker-blocking behavior on browsers in 2022, a gap ...

Jan 18, 2026
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What exactly was the Microsoft exception in DuckDuckGo's tracker policy, and how has DuckDuckGo explained or changed it?

DuckDuckGo’s “Microsoft exception” was a limited carve-out in its browser and extensions that allowed certain Microsoft-owned tracking scripts to load on third‑party websites, a condition DuckDuckGo s...

Jan 7, 2026

Are there confirmed cases of DuckDuckGo breaching user data?

There are no widely accepted, publicly disclosed incidents showing DuckDuckGo suffered a classic data breach that dumped user records to attackers; instead reporting documents a series of privacy laps...

Jan 15, 2026

What transparency mechanisms (blocklists, audits) has DuckDuckGo implemented since 2022 to prevent similar exceptions?

DuckDuckGo responded to the 2022 disclosure of a Microsoft “carve‑out” by publicly pledging more transparency, expanding its tracker blocklist to include Microsoft scripts, and renegotiating the Micro...