DuckDuckGo’s Talks with Apple Fail Due to Google’s Dominance, Transcripts Reveal

Transcripts from a landmark antitrust trial have shed light on the failed contract negotiations between privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo and tech giant Apple. According to the CEO of DuckDuckGo, Gabriel Weinberg, talks between the two companies fell through due to Google’s extensive multibillion-dollar deals with Apple.

Weinberg testified that Google’s annual payments of $10 billion to smartphone makers, including Apple, to maintain its search engine as the default option on devices had a significant impact on DuckDuckGo. The search engine had initially struck a deal with Apple in 2014, allowing it to be shown as an alternative option on Apple devices. However, DuckDuckGo aimed to become the default choice for users who preferred privacy mode, limiting data collection.

Weinberg revealed that Apple showed interest in the proposal in 2016, leading to meetings between executives of both companies in 2017 and 2018. However, concerns were raised about Apple’s distribution agreements with Google, which potentially prevented the shift to DuckDuckGo as the default search engine. The Department of Justice has previously stated that Google pays around $10 billion annually to secure its position as the default search engine on various platforms, given its dominant 90% market share.

Despite similar proposals made to other companies like Samsung, DuckDuckGo faced similar obstacles due to their existing contracts with Google. Weinberg emphasized that each company’s Google contract was the primary barrier preventing a deal with DuckDuckGo.

In 2019, Apple ultimately decided against the change, leading to the demise of the potential deal. Weinberg’s testimony also highlighted that DuckDuckGo holds approximately 2.5% of the search market.

The impact of Google’s dominance in the search market extends beyond the search engine itself, as it plays a significant role in the lucrative advertising market, bolstering its profits.

While DuckDuckGo’s talks with Apple did not result in a contract, the transcripts from the antitrust trial have shed light on the challenges faced by alternative search engines in a market dominated by Google. The trial continues to examine Google’s practices and their impact on competition.