In the news...
- Google Search As You Know It Is Over [techcrunch.com]
Google just announced their biggest search overhaul in its 25-year history: they’re largely retiring the classic list of blue links in favor of a reimagined, AI-powered "intelligent search box.” "This shift means that 'searching the web' will increasingly be performed by AI agents rather than humans. Instead, people will focus more on acting on the information those agents provide instead of manually clicking links."
Friendly reminder: DuckDuckGo’s AI features are optional, and links aren't going anywhere on our search engine. (We also don't spy on you, but that's a whole other thing.)
- FCC Attempts to Solve Robocall Problem by Potentially Creating Even Bigger Privacy Problem [gizmodo.com]
The FCC voted to advance new identity verification rules that would, in theory, help curb the billions robocalls that Americans get each month. But privacy advocates say the new rules could cause even bigger problems, especially for people in vulnerable situations.
Under the proposal, anyone signing up for mobile phone service would have to hand over a government ID, physical address, and pre-existing phone number. These rules would include prepaid “burner” phones that can be a lifeline for anyone whose safety depends on being anonymous, like domestic abuse survivors, refugees, and whistleblowers.
- What Is Global Privacy Control, and Why Should You Care? [allaboutcookies.org]
Global Privacy Control (GPC) is a free browser signal that automatically tells every website you visit not to collect or sell your personal data. It's legally enforceable, too; as of 2026, more than 10 U.S. states require businesses to honor it. (California, Colorado, Connecticut, and New Jersey even name GPC explicitly in their privacy laws.) And regulators are backing it up with real penalties, including a $2.75M settlement with Disney.
Thanks to California's new "Opt Me Out Act", all major browsers that operate within the state will have to offer a built-in GPC signal starting in January 2027. But why wait? Find browsers and extensions that support GPC here. If you’re browsing with us, we’ve already got you covered: GPC is enabled by default in the DuckDuckGo browser.
Proudly Private,
Dax the Duck
Mascot - DuckDuckGo
P.S. Our newsletter doesn't track you, but about 85% of other emails do!
Get a @ duck dot com forwarding address to remove trackers and protect your email address.
Learn more.
Follow us on X
Learn about what’s new at DuckDuckGo on our blog
Go behind the scenes with the DuckDuckGo team on Substack
Join our remote team! See open positions
|
![[ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For May 21, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/brands/cd7g8ybs70o.png?width=40&height=40&aspect_ratio=40%3A40)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For May 28, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/522bb36e-c4e8-421b-bfd0-b5980f837278/Email-example-from-DuckDuckGo_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-may-28-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For May 14, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/e9b06312-3fb3-4c86-afc9-2929035cd3be/Newsletter-from-DuckDuckGo_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-may-14-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For May 7, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/9a975a35-e603-4469-b2ff-df4b0b1de1f3/Email-designs-by-DuckDuckGo_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-may-7-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For April 30, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/7a4c46cf-e43a-4441-9075-35159e259f6f/DuckDuckGo-marketing-email_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-april-30-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For April 23, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/6032f3c4-9dcb-4e26-81e0-0ae16c72a9c9/DuckDuckGo-email-duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-april-23-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For April 16, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/5ac98a37-6d6c-408b-9951-2cf646d1f538/DuckDuckGo-marketing-email_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-april-16-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For April 9, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/4e2afbdd-b65f-4d77-8202-36f64f7d12a2/DuckDuckGo-emails_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-april-9-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
![Email from DuckDuckGo. [ DuckDuckGo Privacy Weekly ] For April 2, 2026](https://n5su3bze2ea.b-cdn.net/preview-images/b56b2c9d-fbb1-4c3f-8d9f-772194c32b28/DuckDuckGo-newsletter-design_duckduckgo-privacy-weekly-for-april-2-2026.webp?bunny=%5Bobject%20Object%5D&width=300&height=600&aspect_ratio=300%3A600)
