DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#1

Post by woodrow » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:21 AM UTC

DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)
wired.com

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#2

Post by coderdude » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:27 AM UTC

More FUD from DuckDuckGo about Google and privacy issues. Didn't we come to the conclusion that the things they are railing against Google for are applicable to any and every Website?

Matt Cutts stole the comment show on this one: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2063619

The worst thing about this is how blindly news about DDG gets upvoted around here.

Edit: To my down-voters: It doesn't make what I said not true anymore.

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#3

Post by ladon86 » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:29 AM UTC

That's awesome! Does anyone (Gabriel...) know if there has been a noticeable bump in traffic as a result?

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#4

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:32 AM UTC

coderdude wrote: post #2

More FUD from DuckDuckGo about Google and privacy issues. Didn't we come to the conclusion that the things they are railing against Google for are applicable to any and every Website? Matt Cutts stole the comment show on this one: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2063619 The worst thing about this is how blindly news about DDG gets upvoted around here. Edit: To my down-voters: It doesn't make what I said not true…

[deleted]

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#5

Post by jeremymims » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:33 AM UTC

This is surprisingly inexpensive advertising and will likely generate the value of its price in press coverage alone.

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#6

Post by truebosko » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:34 AM UTC

Is the whole privacy on search thing really a big issue?

I, for one, want Google to be all Orwellian on me because it will mean better search results. I had a scenario like this a few days ago when I googled for "fabric" -- Being a Python developer I was looking for http://fabfile.org and it shows up as the second result while logged in. If I'm not, it won't show up.

This may be the outlier state of mind on HN, but I think in general, as-in billboard advertising, it's not an issue. Am I wrong?

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#7

Post by potatolicious » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:34 AM UTC

coderdude wrote: post #2

More FUD from DuckDuckGo about Google and privacy issues. Didn't we come to the conclusion that the things they are railing against Google for are applicable to any and every Website? Matt Cutts stole the comment show on this one: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2063619 The worst thing about this is how blindly news about DDG gets upvoted around here. Edit: To my down-voters: It doesn't make what I said not true…

That's disingenuous. DDG has legitimate claim to "Google tracks you" beyond just referrer URLs.

When you search for "athlete's foot" on DDG you won't see an add for foot cream the next time you're watching a video on YouTube. That's the sort of tracking Google undeniably does do that users may find troubling (I know I do).

Most users don't know about this level of tracking. Moreover, while referral URLs containing search terms has been the norm for a long time (and IMHO, is not an evil move, just legacy from a privacy perspective), there is no real reason why things must stay this way.

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#8

Post by jeremydavid » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:35 AM UTC

Not knowing which keywords referred visitors would be terribly annoying to webmasters. Unless you're using dodgy 3rd party advertisers, I don't see what's so bad about aggregating referrer data.

I have a feeling Google might be keen to hold onto their duck.com domain a little longer :)

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#9

Post by noelchurchill » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:37 AM UTC

I am inspired that one man is pulling off DuckDuckGo

Re: DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard in San Francisco)

#10

Post by citricsquid » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 1:38 AM UTC

potatolicious wrote: post #7

coderdude wrote: post #2

More FUD from DuckDuckGo about Google and privacy issues. Didn't we come to the conclusion that the things they are railing against Google for are applicable to any and every Website? Matt Cutts stole the comment show on this one: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2063619 The worst thing about this is how blindly news about DDG gets upvoted around here. Edit: To my down-voters: It doesn't make what I said not true…

That's disingenuous. DDG has legitimate claim to "Google tracks you" beyond just referrer URLs. When you search for "athlete's foot" on DDG you won't see an add for foot cream the next time you're watching a video on YouTube. That's the sort of tracking Google undeniably does do that users may find troubling (I know I do). Most users don't know about this level of tracking. Moreover, while referral URLs containing se…

I was under the impression you can opt-out of all that, is that not the case?