When it comes to quick internet search, Google is likely the outlet many people use, but according to the U.S. Department of Justice in a recently filed lawsuit, the company is a search engine monopoly. Now, smaller, lesser-known search engines are vying for a bigger piece of the space.
DuckDuckGo is one of those services that say Google's practices not only thwart competition in internet search but also utilizes the data it collects from people in less than transparent ways.
"With regards to privacy, though, people don't realize that Google is really an advertising company at its core," said Gabriel Weinberg, founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo.
According to Weinberg, ads created by Google are tailored to each user specifically, essentially creating "behavioral data profiles," that then follow a user across internet platforms.
"That can really cause issues like polarization and, kind of, discrimination in advertising," he explained.
When it comes to the DOJ deeming Google a monopoly, Weinberg agreed, saying, in part, "People were never really given a choice for Google. It just shows up there on your phone." Now, he's calling for the playing field to be leveled and for people to have the option to choose.
"If you try to make DuckDuckGo the default on Android, it takes over 15 steps to do so, and it's not an easy process," he noted.
Perhaps the biggest selling point of a search engine like DuckDuckGo is the protection of user data. But for those who are comfortable with the features of a search engine like Google, Weinberg said that people have to give his platform a chance.
"I'd say that most people really haven't tried alternatives in a decade or more and there are tens of millions of people using DuckDuckGo who are finding no sacrifice," he said.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.
President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie ahead of the board considering the largest railroad merger ever proposed.
