The search engine DuckDuckGo has begun penalizing sites linked to “Russian disinformation” amid the Russia–Ukraine war, according to the company’s CEO.
“Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create,” Gabriel Weinberg, the CEO, wrote on social media.
“At DuckDuckGo, we’ve been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation,” he added.
DuckDuckGo is also placing boxes with information at the top of the search results page “to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics,” Weinberg added.
https://twitter.com/yegg/status/1501717193855283201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1501717193855283201%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Fduckduckgo-updates-search-engine-will-penalize-sites-associated-disinformation
https://twitter.com/yegg/status/1501717826457022464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1501717826457022464%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Fduckduckgo-updates-search-engine-will-penalize-sites-associated-disinformation
DuckDuckGo is an alternative to Google that has been growing in popularity in recent years in part because it doesn’t track users. Weinberg has in the past promised “unbiased results” as part of his pitch to people to switch from Google.
Some users quickly questioned the CEO’s update, including Tom Fitton, president of the Judicial Watch nonprofit.
DuckDuckGo, “contrary to its implicit promises to the contrary, is now in the censorship business,” he wrote on Twitter. “Are there any search engines that respect users?”
.@DuckDuckGo, contrary to its implicit promises to the contrary, is now in the censorship business. Are there any search engines that respect users? https://t.co/uUvzKhI5YQ
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) March 10, 2022
“Today, you are removing Russian disinformation Tomorrow you will be removing genuine protests,” another user wrote.
Disinformation like the Russian bounty story? Or that drone strike that killed kids? Or Jussie Smollette? Or the Covington kids hoax?
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 10, 2022
I understand your good intentions but not interfering like Google does to pick what’s disinformation and what’s not is why people use your product. Without that freedom you’re just baby Google. Please rethink this.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 10, 2022
Agreed. There should be an emergency executive/board meeting in response to this and a 180 degree reversal.
— Larry Sanger (@lsanger) March 10, 2022
DuckDuckGo did not respond to a request for comment.