On the occasion of the 11th Annual Data Privacy Day, the CEO of Internet privacy company DuckDuckGo, along with other DuckDuckGo staff, held an AMA on Reddit. The AMA was aimed at answering privacy-related queries put up by the users. For the uninitiated, DuckDuckGo is an internet search engine which emphasizes on protecting the users’ privacy. The company also has a mobile app for iOS and Android which forces websites to use HTTPS, blocks web trackers, and rates sites based on their privacy practices.
Answering a question regarding US-based companies which protect their user’s privacy and don’t use their personal information to delivery targeted ads and search results, a DuckDuckGo employee recommended Apple. The employee, who goes by the Reddit handle ‘xpxlx’, said: “Among US-based companies, I’d say Apple does a pretty good job. Apple does not monetize your personal information on their platforms.”
In a separate comment on the same thread, DuckDuckGo’s CEO Gabriel Weinberg explains that:
Google is now tracking you on 76% of websites, with Facebook lurking on about a quarter. The data they collect as you browse the web, combined with your search history, likes, and other information, leads to huge personal profiles that are used to target invasive ads at you across the Internet.
Now, if you’re even the least bit concerned about your privacy and are wondering how you can browse the internet without Google tracking your every move, DuckDuckGo has a dedicated post on how you can live without Google. The post highlights ways in which you can take back control of your private information and what’s most interesting is that it recommends iOS over Android for individuals who are concerned about their privacy. The post states: “The most popular alternative to Android is of course iOS, which offers easy device encryption and encrypted messaging via iMessage by default.”
Personally, I’m not really a fan of iOS, so I don’t recommend it to people who ask for my advice. However, keeping in mind the invasive practices and the amount of data Google already has on me, I think it’s time I should give iOS a try. Maybe it’s not as bad as it seems. What is your opinion on the matter? Do you think you’ll switch to iOS to keep your information private? Let us know in the comments section below.
