In the news...
- Europe Gets Serious About Age Verification Online [wired.com]
As Europe cracks down on platforms that allow minors to access adult content with a single click, the bigger question is how to verify age without creating a new privacy nightmare. Current alternatives include identity verification services that collect fingerprints, facial recognition data, and government IDs…all of which raises serious concerns about data exposure and misuse.
The EU's proposed solution is a digital "mini-wallet" that uses selective disclosure: rather than sharing personal documents with a platform, it simply answers "is this person over 18?" with a cryptographically verifiable yes or no. The goal is to make age verification a real safeguard without turning it into a surveillance tool.
- Data Privacy Is a Growth Strategy [hbr.org]
New research suggests that it pays to treat data privacy as a business strategy, not just a legal obligation. A four-year study of 280 brands found that those with strong privacy practices saw 12% higher purchase intent from shoppers, versus brands with weak practices…not to mention shareholder value that was an average of $869 million higher. The researchers advocate for "privacy stewardship," a proactive approach where data protection is visible, embedded in daily operations, and genuinely centered on customer interests rather than compliance checkboxes.
Sound familiar? At DuckDuckGo, privacy is central to our business model. Learn how we make money without tracking here.
- OkCupid Settles Claims It Shared User Photos With a Facial Recognition Company [theverge.com]
Dating app OkCupid settled with the Federal Trade Commission after allegedly sharing nearly three million user photos, along with demographic and location data, with facial recognition company Clarifai, without users' knowledge or consent. "OkCupid and parent company Match Group did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but instead promised not to make similar alleged misrepresentations in the future."
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