DuckDuckGo just called Google out for spying and used App Store privacy labels as proof

DuckDuckGo used Apple’s App Store privacy labels to show how much data both Google and Google Chrome collect from their users as compared to what they collect - which is nothing.

DuckDuckGo has sold itself as a privacy-friendly alternative to other browsers out there, particularly Google, and now these privacy labels are helping their cause. (Lifehacker)

Google took its own sweet time to update its iOS applications with the App Store privacy labels. These privacy labels were put in by Apple to give users a broad idea about what type of data each app collects from them. 

Apple enforced these privacy labels in December last year and Google has just updated the Google and the Google Chrome apps with labels, and DuckDuckGo was quick to jump in and use the information to their advantage. The App Store privacy labels are divided into three sections: “data used to track you,” “data linked to you,” and “data not linked to you”.

In a Twitter post, DuckDuckGo slammed Google for ‘spying' on its users and as proof they furnished the privacy labels put in for Search and Gmail. They also pointed out that Google added labels to their apps after months of stalling.

DuckDuckGo has sold itself as a privacy-friendly alternative to other browsers out there, particularly Google, and now these privacy labels are helping their cause.

“After months of stalling, Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome and the Google app. No wonder they wanted to hide it. Spying on users has nothing to do with building a great web browser or search engine. We would know (our app is both in one),” the company tweeted.

After months of stalling, Google finally revealed how much personal data they collect in Chrome and the Google app. No wonder they wanted to hide it.
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Spying on users has nothing to do with building a great web browser or search engine. We would know (our app is both in one). pic.twitter.com/lJBbLTjMuu

— DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) March 15, 2021

DuckDuckGo is the second most downloaded mobile browser in the US, the first being Chrome, and it does not collect any data that is linked to the user.

DuckDuckGo attached a photo with their tweet that shows privacy labels for their own browser, and compares that to the labels for Chrome and Google apps. And the list is pretty self explanatory.

All the data Google collects as compared to what DuckDuckGo collects.  (DuckDuckGo/Twitter)

All the data Google collects as compared to what DuckDuckGo collects.  (DuckDuckGo/Twitter)

Privacy labels for Google and Chrome show that location, browsing history, search history, financial information etc that are linked to the user for processes like personalisation, analytics and third-party advertising, are all collected.

To be fair, this information is not new and not surprising for Google users, but DuckDuckGo is using this opportunity and the labels to make the disparity apparent.