Apple Safari: Initial Plans of DuckDuckGo Switch, But Google Remains for Private Mode—Why?

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 05 October 2023, 08:10 pm

Private mode in Safari now allows users to choose their preferred search engine to use, despite Google being its default one, but unbeknownst to many, Apple initially planned to switch to DuckDuckGo in place of the internet company. This was recently discovered when the Google antitrust case judge unsealed the documents and revealed testimonies from the famed private search platform.

While DuckDuckGo has been made widely available to the Apple platforms, it did not make the change from Google, with executives revealing the reason behind it.

Apple Safari: Initially Planned to Switch to DuckDuckGo

(Photo : Dawit on Unsplash)

Bloomberg reported that the recent unsealing of documents over the US antitrust case of Google's search has shed light on an initial plan by Apple to switch to DuckDuckGo. In the testimonies, DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg and Apple's senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy John Giannandrea, revealed various meetings.

As per Weinberg, Apple, and DuckDuckGo had over 20 or more meetings with Apple, saying that he believed the switch would happen before the tech's integration into Safari. However, he regarded that it did not make it "all the way to the finish line."

However, Giannandrea had an opposite remark against DuckDuckGo, saying that its "marketing about privacy is somewhat incongruent with the details."

Apple Remained with Google for Safari But Why?

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Giannandrea further regarded that DuckDuckGo relied on Bing in various areas, asking for "a lot more due diligence with DuckDuckGo." Ultimately, the Apple executive fought against switching to DuckDuckGo in an internal company email.

It only goes to show that Apple believed that DuckDuckGo is not as private as it appears, remaining with Google for its search needs, particularly for the iPhones.

Google's Antitrust and Apple's Partnership

Google is now caught up in its antitrust case, as many question its alleged monopolization of the search engine market, particularly its massive ties to remain at the top and default platform used for various tech. One of the most famous partnerships now is with Apple, and Eddy Cue, its senior vice president, revealed that it is because of its unmatched capabilities of the search engine.

This antitrust case is massive against Google, especially as it was previously revealed that Apple receives as much as $8 to $12 billion per year to keep Mountain View's search engine the default on its devices. This stems from the iPhone to the iPad, and Mac.

Still, there were various reports that Apple had plans to develop a search engine to make its tech rely on its creations, but all have been speculations and rumors until now.

Google is still under heavy fire amidst this antitrust case's progression and hearing, with the US government looking into its operations regarding its monopolization of the search engine. Apple had a choice to go with DuckDuckGo on its Safari's Private Browsing Mode, but several discrepancies on the company's end may have prevented it, sticking with Google for now, with alternatives available.