For search engines like DuckDuckGo that prioritize privacy, the Google antitrust verdict offers little cause for celebration. While the ruling brings some minor changes, it leaves the fundamental structures that stifle competition, particularly the power of the default setting, firmly in place.
DuckDuckGo’s CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, was unequivocal in his criticism, stating the remedies are insufficient to address Google’s “illegal behavior.” His primary frustration stems from the court’s decision to allow Google to continue paying Apple billions of dollars to be the default search engine on the iPhone, the most lucrative market segment for search.
While the ruling requires Apple to “better promote” alternatives, competitors know that the power of the default is immense. The vast majority of users never change it. As long as Google can write a $20 billion check to secure that prime real estate, rivals like DuckDuckGo will be relegated to a niche position, no matter how good their product is.
The data-sharing mandate might offer some long-term hope, but for now, the verdict reinforces a harsh reality. The business of search is less about having the best technology and more about having the deepest pockets to pay for distribution. On that front, the ruling changes almost nothing.
