DuckDuckGo is an Internet search engine that, similarly to Google or Bing, enables a user to input a search term and identify websites that relate to it.
DuckDuckGo claims to differ from most mainstream search engines by not tracking the user activity or websites visited as a result of those searches.
DuckDuckGo also claims that it does not retain a search history for the user, meaning that when a user conducts a search, the search engine does not retain it.
Normally search engines, such as Google, maintain a record of the search conducted by the user and the websites accessed as a result in order to build a pattern of behaviour for them so that they can offer results and advertising in keeping with the interests of the user.
These records are then used by Google and other similar search engines to display advertisements based upon the compiled profile for each user to attempt to make them more relevant and, therefore, increase the chances of the user purchasing or following those adverts.
Due to the above, DuckDuckGo attracts users based upon anonymity, allowing users to search for terms that are not retained by the site itself.
However, often, the anonymity of the site is often confused by law enforcement as consisting of a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, given that the history of the user is not retained by the site.
This is not correct though as, whilst the site itself may enable anonymous browsing when compared to alternatives, such as Google, any activity and history taken, including the terms of any searches that have been conducted, are retained in the normal way by the users Internet browser.
DuckDuckGo simply provides the user with the ability to search and browse the Internet without being traced and tracked by the search website that they are using, it does not prevent any activity from being recorded, which is down to the Internet browser settings of the computer.
For example, under normal circumstances, a computer user may browse the Internet with the Google Chrome Internet browsing software.
Most mainstream Internet browsing applications, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, by default, retain all Internet browsing history on the device for a certain period of time, normally 3 or 4 weeks. Some browsers, such as Google Chrome, also retain almost all activity online, within the user’s connected account.
When the DuckDuckGo website is used, the Internet browser still retains any activity and actions taken within it, it is not anonymous in that respect.
Therefore, whilst the use of DuckDuckGo can be alleged to have breached a SHPO, unless the user takes further actions to prevent the retention of any Internet browsing activity, such as changing the settings of the software on the computer, it is likely that any Order was not actually breached by using DuckDuckGo.
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