DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg on Wednesday announced the rollout of a new Google-style censorship scheme to down-rank websites he says are “associated with Russian disinformation.”
This from en-volve.com.
“Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine️,” Weinberg tweeted. “At DuckDuckGo, we’ve been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation.”
“In addition to down-ranking sites associated with disinformation, we also often place news modules and information boxes at the top of DuckDuckGo search results (where they are seen and clicked the most) to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics,” he continued.
Like so many others I am sickened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine️
At DuckDuckGo, we've been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation.
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
In addition to down-ranking sites associated with disinformation, we also often place news modules and information boxes at the top of DuckDuckGo search results (where they are seen and clicked the most) to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics.
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
DuckDuckGo's mission is to make simple privacy protection accessible to all. Privacy is a human right and transcends politics, which is why about 100 million people around the world use DuckDuckGo. (We don't have an exact count since we don't track people.)
— Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022
Weinberg arrogantly lectured users who voiced opposition to his new censorship scheme.
The whole point of DuckDuckGo is for you to NOT do that
— Jason Hayward (@JasonHayward87) March 10, 2022
So you are censoring your users? DDG now decides what is or isn't misinformation? This decision should be left to the user
— Aindreas (@andrewwbharvey) March 10, 2022
I get it but I thought the point of DuckDuckGo was to present search results "as is". Not your role to play thought police.
— Gimli (@GIMLIS0N0FGL0IN) March 10, 2022
The only quality search engine which doesn’t censor content based off political views now is Russia’s Yandex (at least if you’re outside Russia).
Weinberg evidently paused ties with Yandex a week or so ago:
Is DDG finally going to stop using russian Yandex search engine which is yet another government's propaganda tool?
— 🇺🇦 пан Марк (@mmatviyiv) March 10, 2022
The Gateway Pundit said they reached out to DuckDuckGo for comment on the allegations, but DDG didn’t respond.
Libs Of TikTok were suspended from Twitter temporarily just for posting the screenshots.
Weinberg had no issue with going on RT in 2015 to promote his website.
Now that the winds have changed and DuckDuckGo has surged in popularity he has been assimilated into the Borg.
Weinberg has likely been bought out—the lure of large amounts of cash corrupts absolutely.
Is now the time for a new search engine that will serve indiscriminately? I presume The Trump Organization is already riding to the rescue.
God speed to Conservatism.
And God speed to the powers of right and true.
