Microsoft trackers run afoul of DuckDuckGo, get added to blocklist
On August 7, 2022 by Ivica Berkov
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson)
DuckDuckGo, the privacy-minded search company, says it will start blocking trackers from Microsoft in its mobile apps and browser extensions, and soon its desktop web browser, following revelations in May that certain scripts from Bing and LinkedIn were getting a pass.
In a blog post, DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg says that he’s heard users’ concerns since security researcher Zach Edwards’ thread that “we didn’t meet their expectations around one of our browser’s web tracking protections.” So now the company’s mobile browsing apps and browser extensions will add Microsoft to the list of third-party tracking scripts blocked from loading on pages, with the company’s beta browser to follow next month. (Update: A DuckDuckGo spokesperson clarified the timing of the company’s blocklist updates for different apps and extensions. Ars regrets the confusion.)
“Previously, we were limited in how we could apply our 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection on Microsoft tracking scripts due to a policy requirement related to our use of Bing as a source for our private search results,” Weinberg writes. “We’re glad this is no longer the case. We have not had, and do not have, any similar limitation with any other company.”