DuckDuckGone

[Mountain Man]

DuckDuckGo, the search engine that marketed itself on the promise to never collect private information about its users, recently became a less attractive alternative when the company announced that it will begin down-ranking search results that are deemed "misinformation".

Popular privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, commonly considered an alternative to Google, has announced that it will be “down-ranking” sites associated with “disinformation,” along with adding “information boxes” to “highlight quality information.” The announcement received widespread backlash from DuckDuckGo supporters, who view the changes as adopting the censorship policies of the Masters of the Universe.

In a recent Twitter post, the CEO of privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo announced that the company would be downranking “sites associated with disinformation,” which has been a popular tactic by Google for years to reduce user access to content it considers objectionable

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/...isinformation/

Down-ranking search results is its own form of misinformation.

[Bill the Cat]

Whatever happened to "That's none of our business..."

[Sparko]

This might have something to do with it:

As part of its sanctions against Russia, the European Union is imposing sweeping new restrictions on search engines and social media companies' ability to share content from Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik.

In a notice to Google, the European Commission said it is requiring search engines to remove all search results that contain links to or even "short textual descriptions" of RT and Sputnik content. It's also requiring social media platforms to block posts linking to or rebroadcasting content from either outlet.
https://www.protocol.com/bulletins/e...-google-search

[rogue06]

This might have something to do with it:

As part of its sanctions against Russia, the European Union is imposing sweeping new restrictions on search engines and social media companies' ability to share content from Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik.

In a notice to Google, the European Commission said it is requiring search engines to remove all search results that contain links to or even "short textual descriptions" of RT and Sputnik content. It's also requiring social media platforms to block posts linking to or rebroadcasting content from either outlet.
https://www.protocol.com/bulletins/e...-google-search

Is the EU trying to out-Xi Xi?

[mossrose]

The Melody Maker

[seanD]

DuckDuckGo, the search engine that marketed itself on the promise to never collect private information about its users, recently became a less attractive alternative when the company announced that it will begin down-ranking search results that are deemed "misinformation".

Popular privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, commonly considered an alternative to Google, has announced that it will be “down-ranking” sites associated with “disinformation,” along with adding “information boxes” to “highlight quality information.” The announcement received widespread backlash from DuckDuckGo supporters, who view the changes as adopting the censorship policies of the Masters of the Universe.

In a recent Twitter post, the CEO of privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo announced that the company would be downranking “sites associated with disinformation,” which has been a popular tactic by Google for years to reduce user access to content it considers objectionable

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/...isinformation/

Down-ranking search results is its own form of misinformation.

You would think that if they actually concerned about "misinformation," they would just do it and not announce it, especially knowing this would tick off their user base. The fact they publicly announced it suggests they're under pressure (most likely government) to do so.

[tabibito]

I've probably heard of it before now, but the name didn't ring any bells. Tried it out - so far it is impressive.

[Mountain Man]

You would think that if they actually concerned about "misinformation," they would just do it and not announce it, especially knowing this would tick off their user base. The fact they publicly announced it suggests they're under pressure (most likely government) to do so.

Either they're being forced to do it -- in which case you would expect them to out whoever is compelling them -- or they think this will somehow give them more credibility. "Look, we care about 'misinformation', too, just like Google!"

[KingsGambit]

Either they're being forced to do it -- in which case you would expect them to out whoever is compelling them -- or they think this will somehow give them more credibility. "Look, we care about 'misinformation', too, just like Google!"

The idea that they would see themselves as gaining credibility doesn't make much sense; they've carved out a niche as an alternative to "big tech" among people who tend to be distrustful of tech corporations. A move like this would seem to be anathema to their target audience.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Ever since truth became relative or based on your experience, it's become easier to declare something as false.

[Mountain Man]

The idea that they would see themselves as gaining credibility doesn't make much sense; they've carved out a niche as an alternative to "big tech" among people who tend to be distrustful of tech corporations. A move like this would seem to be anathema to their target audience.

"Shooting yourself in the foot" is a common saying, but "Shooting yourself in the head" seems more appropriate in this case.

[Gondwanaland]

DuckDuckGo, the search engine that marketed itself on the promise to never collect private information about its users, recently became a less attractive alternative when the company announced that it will begin down-ranking search results that are deemed "misinformation".

Popular privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, commonly considered an alternative to Google, has announced that it will be “down-ranking” sites associated with “disinformation,” along with adding “information boxes” to “highlight quality information.” The announcement received widespread backlash from DuckDuckGo supporters, who view the changes as adopting the censorship policies of the Masters of the Universe.

In a recent Twitter post, the CEO of privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo announced that the company would be downranking “sites associated with disinformation,” which has been a popular tactic by Google for years to reduce user access to content it considers objectionable

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2022/...isinformation/

Down-ranking search results is its own form of misinformation.

You.... do realize that any search engine, no matter what, downranks search results to provide sites and links that give information users are looking for. Otherwise they are straight up worthless and cannot actually do what they are designed to do.

DDG's main draw is its privacy and protections of users from their searches being linked to them,etc.. That doesn't appear to be changing thus far.

[Mountain Man]

You.... do realize that any search engine, no matter what, downranks search results to provide sites and links that give information users are looking for. Otherwise they are straight up worthless and cannot actually do what they are designed to do.

DDG's main draw is its privacy and protections of users from their searches being linked to them,etc.. That doesn't appear to be changing thus far.

This goes way beyond an algorithm that simply ranks sites based on popularity and/or relevance. Since they will be targeting supposed "misinformation", the implication is that these will be hand-curated results with humans deciding what is and isn't "misinformation".

[Gondwanaland]

This goes way beyond an algorithm that simply ranks sites based on popularity and/or relevance. Since they will be targeting supposed "misinformation", the implication is that these will be hand-curated results with humans deciding what is and isn't "misinformation".

1. this is, AFAIK, about known Russian government misinformation mouthpieces (which I'm sure is why it's got you fuming)
2. I'm unsure how this is any different than, say, giving priority to a site that debunks flat earther arguments over one that makes flat earther arguments and pushes misinformation wrt that.


In any case, again: DDG's main draw is its privacy and protections of users from their searches being linked to them,etc.. That doesn't appear to be changing thus far.

[Ronson]

1. this is, AFAIK, about known Russian government misinformation mouthpieces (which I'm sure is why it's got you fuming)

Yes. If someone still wants to get to RT, all they need to do is bookmark it. DDG or Google or Bing can't block access to it.

2. I'm unsure how this is any different than, say, giving priority to a site that debunks flat earther arguments over one that makes flat earther arguments and pushes misinformation wrt that.

Yes. Practically any news story I search for using Google or DDG pushes up left-leaning news sites. Been that way for quite a while.

In any case, again: DDG's main draw is its privacy and protections of users from their searches being linked to them,etc.. That doesn't appear to be changing thus far.

Yes. That's why I use it. Yes, yes, yes.