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Duck Duck Go, Inc. — Privacy Policy
| Snapshot 2026-05-21 00:05 UTC | Snapshot 2026-06-10 20:15 UTC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | n | 1 | **Update June 2026:** We've updated our policy to cover Duck.ai chats and other | ||
| > | optional features. | ||||
| 2 | |||||
| 1 | Privacy Policy | 3 | Privacy Policy | ||
| 2 | 4 | ||||
| 3 | # We don’t track you. | 5 | # We don’t track you. | ||
| 6 | 8 | ||||
| 7 | ### About Us | 9 | ### About Us | ||
| 8 | 10 | ||||
| n | 9 | DuckDuckGo (officially, Duck Duck Go, Inc.) has been an independent company sinc | n | 11 | DuckDuckGo (officially, Duck Duck Go, Inc.) has been an independent company sinc |
| > | e our founding in 2008. While we started as a search engine, our apps and extens | > | e our founding in 2008. While we started as a search engine, our apps and extens | ||
| > | ions now offer protection well beyond search, including when browsing the web , | > | ions now offer protection well beyond search, including when browsing the web , | ||
| > | reading email , and using AIs in Duck.ai . | > | reading email , using chatbots , and even using other apps . | ||
| 10 | 12 | ||||
| 11 | Trackers lurk nearly everywhere online, trying to scoop up your search history, | 13 | Trackers lurk nearly everywhere online, trying to scoop up your search history, | ||
| > | browsing history, location history, and more. Even everyday online activities li | > | browsing history, location history, and more. Even everyday online activities li | ||
| > | ke purchasing groceries or looking up the local weather can result in dozens of | > | ke purchasing groceries or looking up the local weather can result in dozens of | ||
| > | companies tracking you. | > | companies tracking you. | ||
| 12 | 14 | ||||
| n | 13 | Other companies track your data — like your search and browsing history — to cre | n | 15 | Other companies track your data — like your search, chat, and browsing history — |
| > | ate detailed profiles about you, and then use those profiles to follow you aroun | > | to create detailed profiles about you, and then use those profiles to follow yo | ||
| > | d with ads so creepy it can seem like your devices are listening in on you (even | > | u around with ads so creepy it can seem like your devices are listening in on yo | ||
| > | when they aren’t). These profiles are also used by companies to influence what | > | u (even when they aren’t). These profiles are also used by companies to influenc | ||
| > | you see online, which can lead to manipulation and discrimination. That’s why we | > | e what you see online, which can lead to manipulation and discrimination. That’s | ||
| > | offer an all-in-one privacy product as a privacy preserving alternative to prod | > | why we offer an all-in-one privacy product as a privacy preserving alternative | ||
| > | ucts like Google Search and Google Chrome, to help protect your everyday online | > | to products like Google Search, Google Gemini, and Google Chrome, to help protec | ||
| > | activities. | > | t your everyday online activities. | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| 15 | ### Privacy Policy | 17 | ### Privacy Policy | ||
| 16 | 18 | ||||
| 17 | #### We don’t track you. That’s our Privacy Policy in a nutshell. | 19 | #### We don’t track you. That’s our Privacy Policy in a nutshell. | ||
| 18 | 20 | ||||
| n | 19 | #### We don’t save or share your search or browsing history when you search on D | n | 21 | #### We don’t save or share your search, chat, or browsing history when you sear |
| > | uckDuckGo or use our apps and extensions. | > | ch on DuckDuckGo, chat on Duck.ai, or use our apps and extensions. | ||
| 20 | 22 | ||||
| n | 21 | When you visit our search engine or our other websites, your device sends some i | n | 23 | When you visit our search engine or our other websites, your device sends some i |
| > | nformation about itself automatically, like its IP address, browser type, and la | > | nformation about itself automatically, like its IP address, browser type, and la | ||
| > | nguage, and may send additional information upon request like its screen size, o | > | nguage, and may send additional information upon request like its screen size, o | ||
| > | perating system, and preferences. However, we only use this information temporar | > | perating system, and preferences. However, we only use this information temporar | ||
| > | ily to deliver content to you and, for security, to ensure you’re not a maliciou | > | ily to deliver content to you and, for security, to ensure you’re not a maliciou | ||
| > | s bot. We don’t save your IP address or any unique identifiers alongside your se | > | s bot. Similarly, we may also anonymously use information we receive from you wh | ||
| > | arches or visits to our websites. We also never log IP addresses or any unique i | > | en using our products and features, such as click timing in Email Protection, fo | ||
| > | dentifiers to disk that could be tied back to you or to your search and browsing | > | r security, and to protect against fraud and abuse. We don’t save your IP addres | ||
| > | history. | > | s alongside your searches, Duck.ai chats, or visits to our websites, and we neve | ||
| > | r log IP addresses to disk that could be tied back to you. We also don’t save an | ||||
| > | y other unique identifiers alongside your searches, chats, or visits to our webs | ||||
| > | ite, and never log unique identifiers to disk that could be tied back to you or | ||||
| > | to your search, chat, or browsing history. If you enable optional features (more | ||||
| > | on those below), such as storing chats in encrypted form on our servers with Sy | ||||
| > | nc & Backup, we may use random IDs so those features can work, but the master de | ||||
| > | cryption key exists only on your synced devices, meaning DuckDuckGo cannot decry | ||||
| > | pt and read your chats in any case. | ||||
| 22 | 24 | ||||
| n | 23 | This means that when you use our services, we have no way to create a history of | n | 25 | This means that when you use our services, we have no way to create a history of |
| > | your search queries or the sites you browse. For example, we may know that we g | > | your search queries, your chats, or the sites you browse. For example, we may k | ||
| > | ot a lot of searches for " cute cat pictures " today, but we don’t know who actu | > | now that we got a lot of searches for " cute cat pictures " today, but we don’t | ||
| > | ally performed those searches. That is, viewing search results on DuckDuckGo is | > | know who actually performed those searches. That is, viewing search results on D | ||
| > | anonymous. And we only save these anonymous search queries — completely disconne | > | uckDuckGo is anonymous. And we only save these anonymous search queries — comple | ||
| > | cted from any unique identifiers like IP addresses — to improve our search index | > | tely disconnected from any unique identifiers like IP addresses — to improve our | ||
| > | es by analyzing anonymous search trends, so that we can better serve you. For lo | > | search indexes by analyzing anonymous search trends, so that we can better serv | ||
| > | cal search results in particular, we've further engineered a solution to shield | > | e you. For local search results in particular, we've further engineered a soluti | ||
| > | your precise location from us and our content providers that sends us a random l | > | on to shield your precise location from us and our content providers that sends | ||
| > | ocation nearish to you, which we also never log to disk. | > | us a random location nearish to you, which we also never log to disk. | ||
| 24 | 26 | ||||
| n | 25 | In the process of delivering and improving our search results and other content, | n | 27 | In the process of delivering and improving our search results and other content, |
| > | we also prevent our hosting and content providers from creating a history of yo | > | we also prevent our hosting and content providers from creating a history of yo | ||
| > | ur searches and browsing. At a technical level, we achieve this by calling for c | > | ur searches, chats, and browsing. At a technical level, we achieve this by calli | ||
| > | ontent (for example, images) on your behalf from our servers and then ensuring t | > | ng for content (for example, images) on your behalf from our servers and then en | ||
| > | hat content is securely delivered to you through an end-to-end encrypted connect | > | suring that content is securely delivered to you through an end-to-end encrypted | ||
| > | ion. In order for our product to function (for example, for security and display | > | connection. In order for our product to function (for example, for security and | ||
| > | purposes), we share anonymous information (for example, browser and device type | > | display purposes), we share anonymous information (for example, browser and dev | ||
| > | s) with our hosting and content providers, but we never share any information wi | > | ice types) with our hosting and content providers, but we never share any inform | ||
| > | th them that could tie your searches or website visits to you personally, or tha | > | ation with them that could tie your searches, chats, or website visits to you pe | ||
| > | t could allow them to create a history of your individual search queries or the | > | rsonally, or that could allow them to create a history of your individual search | ||
| > | sites you browse. | > | queries, chats, or the sites you browse. | ||
| 26 | 28 | ||||
| n | 27 | The Internet works by routing information to you via your device's IP address. A | n | 29 | The Internet works by routing information to you via your device's IP address. A |
| > | s such, we cannot prevent your device's IP address from being seen by your inter | > | s such, we cannot prevent your device's IP address from being seen by your inter | ||
| > | net service provider, our hosting provider, or other internet providers in betwe | > | net service provider, our hosting provider, or other internet providers in betwe | ||
| > | en (typically, there are one or more internet providers between any two points o | > | en (typically, there are one or more internet providers between any two points o | ||
| > | n the Internet). That is, these providers necessarily use IP addresses to route | > | n the Internet). That is, these providers necessarily use IP addresses to route | ||
| > | information. They may also use them for security purposes, such as preventing ne | > | information. They may also use them for security purposes, such as preventing ne | ||
| > | twork attacks and limiting other fraudulent traffic. However, the encrypted conn | > | twork attacks and limiting other fraudulent traffic. However, the encrypted conn | ||
| > | ection between you and us prevents your search queries from being revealed to an | > | ection between you and us prevents your queries from being revealed to any of th | ||
| > | y of these entities. And if you use our apps and extensions, our Smarter Encrypt | > | ese entities. And if you use our apps and extensions, our Smarter Encryption als | ||
| > | ion also helps you use more encrypted connections when visiting other websites. | > | o helps you use more encrypted connections when visiting other websites. | ||
| 28 | 30 | ||||
| 29 | Keep in mind that when you visit other websites by navigating to them directly, | 31 | Keep in mind that when you visit other websites by navigating to them directly, | ||
| > | by clicking external links on our search engine, or by using our !bang shortcuts | > | by clicking external links on our search engine, or by using our !bang shortcuts | ||
| > | , the privacy policies and practices of those other websites apply, including a | > | , the privacy policies and practices of those other websites apply, including a | ||
| > | ny information you submit to them. While our apps and extensions provide many sa | > | ny information you submit to them. While our apps and extensions provide many sa | ||
| > | feguards against online tracking, we can’t completely protect you when you visit | > | feguards against online tracking, we can’t completely protect you when you visit | ||
| > | other websites and apps. For example, if you browse Facebook, Facebook will kno | > | other websites and apps. For example, if you browse Facebook, Facebook will kno | ||
| > | w what you do on their site. Our Web Tracking Protections page details how our v | > | w what you do on their site. Our Web Tracking Protections page details how our v | ||
| > | arious protections function and their limitations. | > | arious protections function and their limitations. | ||
| 30 | 32 | ||||
| 31 | #### We make money through private search ads. | 33 | #### We make money through private search ads. | ||
| 32 | 34 | ||||
| n | 33 | It is a myth that search engines need to track you to make money. We make our mo | n | 35 | It is a myth that search engines need to track you to make money. We make most o |
| > | ney from private search ads on our search engine. On most other search engines, | > | f our money from private search ads on our search engine. On most other search e | ||
| > | ads are influenced by profiles compiled from your personal information, such as | > | ngines, ads are influenced by profiles compiled from your personal information, | ||
| > | search, browsing, and purchase history. Since we don’t have that information, se | > | such as search, browsing, and purchase history. Since we don’t have that informa | ||
| > | arch ads on DuckDuckGo are based on the search results page you’re viewing, and | > | tion, search ads on DuckDuckGo are based on the search results page you’re viewi | ||
| > | not based on you as a person. For example, if you search for cars, we’ll show yo | > | ng, and not based on you as a person. For example, if you search for cars, we’ll | ||
| > | u ads about cars. | > | show you ads about cars. | ||
| 34 | 36 | ||||
| 35 | Viewing ads on DuckDuckGo Search is anonymous, like the rest of our search resul | 37 | Viewing ads on DuckDuckGo Search is anonymous, like the rest of our search resul | ||
| > | ts (as described above). Ad clicks are managed by Microsoft's ad network and Mic | > | ts (as described above). Ad clicks are managed by Microsoft's ad network and Mic | ||
| > | rosoft has committed to not associate your ad-click behavior with a user profile | > | rosoft has committed to not associate your ad-click behavior with a user profile | ||
| > | and to not store or share that information other than for accounting purposes. | > | and to not store or share that information other than for accounting purposes. | ||
| 36 | 38 | ||||
| 37 | #### We offer optional privacy-protecting features that require limited personal | 39 | #### We offer optional privacy-protecting features that require limited personal | ||
| > | information to function. | > | information to function. | ||
| 38 | 40 | ||||
| n | 39 | For optional features, we only request personal information necessary for the fe | n | 41 | For optional features, we only request personal information necessary for the fe |
| > | ature to function and only use the information for that purpose. Before you opt | > | ature to function and only use the information for that purpose. Before you choo | ||
| > | in to any optional feature, we always let you know what personal information we’ | > | se to use an optional feature, we always let you know what personal information | ||
| > | ll need (if any), how we’ll use it, and how you can subsequently opt out. For ex | > | we’ll need (if any), how we’ll use it, and how you can subsequently opt out. For | ||
| > | ample, our Email Protection is an optional feature that requires some personal i | > | example, Email Protection is an optional feature that requires your email addre | ||
| > | nformation to work (namely, your email address), and all of this is explained in | > | ss to function, and we explain how that information is handled in our Email Prot | ||
| > | our Email Protection Privacy Policy . | > | ection Privacy Policy . We take the same approach with other optional features l | ||
| > | ike Duck.ai , Sync & Backup , and our DuckDuckGo Subscription , with more detail | ||||
| > | s in each feature’s privacy policy. | ||||
| 40 | 42 | ||||
| 41 | #### We improve our product by using anonymous methods and by considering public | 43 | #### We improve our product by using anonymous methods and by considering public | ||
| > | ly available information. | > | ly available information. | ||
| 42 | 44 | ||||
| 44 | 46 | ||||
| 45 | #### We don’t track you through cookies or any other storage methods. | 47 | #### We don’t track you through cookies or any other storage methods. | ||
| 46 | 48 | ||||
| n | 47 | We offer a variety of search settings that use anonymous cookies for storage, an | n | 49 | We offer a variety of settings that use anonymous cookies for storage, and also |
| > | d also offer the option to configure search settings via anonymous URL parameter | > | offer the option to configure search settings via anonymous URL parameters if yo | ||
| > | s if you prefer. Similarly, we use local storage on your device for anonymous di | > | u prefer. Similarly, we use local storage on your device for anonymous display s | ||
| > | splay settings. For instance, we might use local storage to anonymously remember | > | ettings. For instance, we might use local storage to anonymously remember the fa | ||
| > | the fact that you’ve already dismissed a prompt to install our app so that we d | > | ct that you’ve already dismissed a prompt to install our app so that we don’t an | ||
| > | on’t annoy you by showing it again. | > | noy you by showing it again. | ||
| 48 | 50 | ||||
| n | 49 | Related, the anonymous experiments described in the section above sometimes requ | n | 51 | Related, the anonymous experiments described in the section above sometimes requ |
| > | ire us to use browser storage too, but we never store any information that could | > | ire us to use browser storage too, but we never store any information that could | ||
| > | identify you or your searches. For example, we might use storage to make sure a | > | identify you or your searches, chats, or browsing history. For example, we migh | ||
| > | design we’re testing doesn’t frequently change on you. Finally, if you use opti | > | t use storage to make sure a design we’re testing doesn’t frequently change on y | ||
| > | onal features, such as staying signed in to our Email Protection, we use only th | > | ou. Finally, if you use optional features, such as staying signed in to our Emai | ||
| > | e minimal necessary storage to allow that feature to perform. | > | l Protection, we use only the minimal necessary storage to allow that feature to | ||
| > | perform. | ||||
| 50 | 52 | ||||
| 51 | #### We protect and limit use of your data when you communicate directly with Du | 53 | #### We protect and limit use of your data when you communicate directly with Du | ||
| > | ckDuckGo. | > | ckDuckGo. | ||
| 52 | 54 | ||||
| 53 | If you voluntarily provide personal information to us directly, we protect and l | 55 | If you voluntarily provide personal information to us directly, we protect and l | ||
| > | imit its use. We will limit its use by only keeping it for as long necessary for | > | imit its use. We will limit its use by only keeping it for as long necessary for | ||
| > | the stated purpose, and we will protect it by keeping it secure and deleting it | > | the stated purpose, and we will protect it by keeping it secure and deleting it | ||
| > | when it is no longer required, unless a longer period is required by law. For e | > | when it is no longer required, unless a longer period is required by law. For e | ||
| > | xample, if you opt to receive our privacy newsletter , we will ask for your emai | > | xample, if you opt to receive our privacy newsletter , we will ask for your emai | ||
| > | l address and use it only to deliver that content. You can also unsubscribe at a | > | l address and use it only to deliver that content. You can also unsubscribe at a | ||
| > | ny time, at which point we will delete it. | > | ny time, at which point we will delete it. | ||
| 54 | 56 | ||||
| n | 55 | Similarly, if you reach out to us directly for support, to provide feedback (suc | n | 57 | Similarly, if you reach out to us directly for support, to provide feedback (suc |
| > | h as in a crash report or on our search engine), or for other reasons, we will o | > | h as in a crash report or on our search engine), or for other reasons, we will o | ||
| > | nly use your contact information to respond to you. In that process, your commun | > | nly use your contact information to respond to you. In that process, your commun | ||
| > | ication may be accessible to the software-as-a-service providers we use in our c | > | ication may be accessible to the software-as-a-service providers we use in our c | ||
| > | orporate systems (such as our company email and project management software). Fo | > | orporate systems (such as our company email, project management software, and cu | ||
| > | r information voluntarily provided in surveys, we sometimes use additional vendo | > | stomer support vendors). For information voluntarily provided in surveys, we som | ||
| > | rs for processing, though their access to personal information is contractually | > | etimes use additional vendors for processing, though their access to personal in | ||
| > | limited to what is necessary to perform their services. Finally, if you apply fo | > | formation is contractually limited to what is necessary to perform their service | ||
| > | r a position on our team, any information you provide falls under our Recruiting | > | s. Finally, if you apply for a position on our team, any information you provide | ||
| > | Information Policy . | > | falls under our Recruiting Information Policy . | ||
| 56 | 58 | ||||
| 57 | #### We respect and support your legal privacy rights. | 59 | #### We respect and support your legal privacy rights. | ||
| 58 | 60 | ||||
| n | 59 | Critically, it's not possible for us to provide search or browsing histories lin | n | 61 | Critically, it's not possible for us to provide search, chat, or browsing histor |
| > | ked to you in response to legal requests because we don't have them. Nevertheles | > | ies linked to you in response to legal requests because we don't have them. Neve | ||
| > | s, we will vigorously resist government efforts to compel us to produce the very | > | rtheless, we will only disclose the very limited personal information that we mi | ||
| > | limited personal information that we might have, for example, your email addres | > | ght have, for example, your email address if you subscribe to our newsletter, if | ||
| > | s if you subscribe to our newsletter. | > | we are legally forced to do so, and we will use legal means to fight against su | ||
| > | ch disclosure. If required by law to disclose any of your personal information a | ||||
| > | nd we have your email address, we will notify you by email unless legally forbid | ||||
| > | den to do so. | ||||
| 60 | 62 | ||||
| n | 61 | Related, there are scenarios where we may transfer this limited personal informa | n | 63 | Related, there are scenarios where we may transfer this limited personal informa |
| > | tion (for example, your email address) to countries other than the country in wh | > | tion (for example, your email address) to countries other than the country in wh | ||
| > | ich it was received. For example, we have servers across the world and while you | > | ich it was received. For example, we have servers across the world and while you | ||
| > | r device will typically try to automatically connect to regional servers (e.g., | > | r device will typically try to automatically connect to regional servers (e.g., | ||
| > | European servers in Europe, U.S. servers in the U.S.), you could be using a VPN | > | European servers in Europe, U.S. servers in the U.S.), you could be using a VPN | ||
| > | from another country. Additionally, DuckDuckGo team members are also distributed | > | from another country. Additionally, DuckDuckGo team members, and certain custome | ||
| > | worldwide, and while we have robust security and access controls in place, auth | > | r support vendors, are also distributed worldwide, and while we have robust secu | ||
| > | orized team members access DuckDuckGo servers as necessary to operate our servic | > | rity and access controls in place, authorized team members access DuckDuckGo ser | ||
| > | es. In such scenarios, if any cross-border transfers are necessary, we will foll | > | vers as necessary to operate our services. In such scenarios, if any cross-borde | ||
| > | ow applicable legal requirements. | > | r transfers are necessary, we will follow applicable legal requirements. | ||
| 62 | 64 | ||||
| 63 | Privacy laws in some jurisdictions provide certain rights with respect to the li | 65 | Privacy laws in some jurisdictions provide certain rights with respect to the li | ||
| > | mited personal information we may hold about you from our optional features or f | > | mited personal information we may hold about you from our optional features or f | ||
| > | rom your reaching out to contact us. For information about these rights, such as | > | rom your reaching out to contact us. For information about these rights, such as | ||
| > | requesting deletion or a copy of your personal information, please review our P | > | requesting deletion or a copy of your personal information, please review our P | ||
| > | rivacy Rights page . | > | rivacy Rights page . | ||
| 64 | 66 | ||||
| 74 | 76 | ||||
| 75 | We will notify you of changes by posting the modified version on our website. We | 77 | We will notify you of changes by posting the modified version on our website. We | ||
| > | will indicate the date it was last modified below with an update message on top | > | will indicate the date it was last modified below with an update message on top | ||
| > | . | > | . | ||
| 76 | 78 | ||||
| t | 77 | Last updated 11-21-25 | t | 79 | Last updated 06-03-26 |
| 78 | 80 | ||||
| 79 | Pre-2023 version | 81 | Pre-2023 version | ||