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.
Nvidia on Wednesday became the first public company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. The ravenous appetite for the Silicon Valley company’s chips is the main reason that the company’s stock price has increased so rapidly since early 2023.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global, breaks down September’s CPI print and inflation trends, explaining what it means for markets.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
