DuckDuckGo, a search engine known for its focus on privacy, attracted attention in Indonesia after reports that access had been blocked by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo). The original report linked the restriction to the ministry’s Positive Trust of Kominfo content-filtering system. This article describes the explanations given at the time and provides background on DuckDuckGo; it is a historical account rather than a statement about current access.
Why Was DuckDuckGo Blocked by Kominfo’s Trust Positif?
It was reported that DuckDuckGo was blocked because it was deemed to not comply with the censorship policies implemented by the Indonesian government. This search engine allows users to browse the internet without worrying about their data being accessed by third parties.
This strict privacy policy means that sites that should be censored and blocked by the government can still be accessed through DuckDuckGo. Examples of accessible content include online gambling and pornography sites, which are prohibited according to Indonesian government regulations.
After Bloggerpi Digital checked, it turned out to be true. Duck Duck Go search engine website This has been blocked by the Indonesian government. This is confirmed by the following statement from a netizen found by Bloggerpi Digital on Twitter (X).
HOI @kemkominfo why access to @DuckDuckGo you guys block? pic.twitter.com/IcaNaVJUls
— Anton Muhajir (@antonemus) July 29, 2024
However, some say that DuckDuckGo can still be accessed through some ISPs, such as Biznet, and browsers like Firefox. It remains unclear why some browsers and ISPs still allow access to this privacy-focused search engine.
Furthermore, as of the publication of this article on Bloggerpi Digital, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology regarding a clear reason for blocking the DuckDuckGo search engine. Netizens should not worry, as they can still use other search engines, such as Google or AI-based ones like Perplexity. SearchGPT.
Who Owns DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo (DDG) is internet search engine which uses information from various sources to provide search results. Some of DDG’s partners include Yandex, Yahoo, Bing, and WolframAlpha.
DuckDuckGo was founded by Gabriel Weinberg, an entrepreneur who previously launched Names Database, a now-defunct social network. This privacy-focused search engine company is headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Where Does This Search Engine’s Revenue Come From?
Like other search engines, DuckDuckGo generates revenue through advertising. However, unlike Google, ads on this privacy-focused search engine are not based on user profiles, but rather on the keywords being searched.
For example, if a user searches for “cookies,” the ads displayed will be for various cookie products. DuckDuckGo also has a feature to disable ads, providing additional user convenience.
DuckDuckGo Advantages
- User Privacy: This search engine does not track users’ personal information or search activity. It also does not display search history.
- Neutral Search Results: Search engines will provide search results that are not influenced by user profiles, so the results are more neutral.
- Minimal Ads: This Search Engine will display fewer ads than other search engines.
- Without Google Remarketing: There is no remarketing feature like on Google, which often follows users with ads across multiple sites.
DuckDuckGo’s Disadvantages
- Limited Features: Search engines do not have as many features as Google.
- User Convenience: Although it is very protective of user privacy, DuckDuckGo can sometimes be less convenient to use, especially for users who are used to Google’s full features.
Has Other Advantages, But There Are Still Quite a Lot of Alternatives
DuckDuckGo offers significant advantages in terms of user privacy and a browsing experience free from user profiling. However, this is also the main reason why this search engine was blocked by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Despite this, the search engine remains a popular choice for those who value privacy when browsing the internet.
For users who want to enjoy DuckDuckGo’s advantages, it’s important to understand the limitations and regulations imposed by local governments. Use alternative search engines if this search engine is blocked by other ISPs, considering that this search engine’s market share is not particularly large. According to data from Statcounter, globally, it only controls 0.62 percent of the market.
