Every query is a confession. Google stores them forever. DuckDuckGo let Microsoft track you. Only Kagi charges money instead of collecting data.
6 devices analyzed. Set your privacy comfort level to filter.
What we found
Google Search: DPolice can ask Google for everyone who searched a specific term — it's called a "keyword warrant." By 2019, Google was processing 180 of these requests per w...
Keyword warrants: police get list of everyone who searched specific terms. Sensorvault: 180+ geofence warrants/week by 2019. Search history provided via standard warrants.
Bing: DEvery Bing search feeds into Microsoft's advertising network of 801 partners.
Queries linked to Microsoft account, IP, device IDs. First PRISM participant (2007). Same ecosystem: Outlook (801 ad partners), DiagTrack, Copilot AI. Edge sends keystrokes by default.
Brave Search: BBrave Search genuinely doesn't track you and runs its own index.
Independent index (genuine). No tracking. SOC 2 Type II. But: US jurisdiction. Parent company: affiliate link injection (2020), Brave Ads. Trust issues carry over.
DuckDuckGo: BDuckDuckGo built its brand on blocking trackers.
May 2022: mobile browsers allowed Microsoft trackers (LinkedIn, Bing) due to ad syndication deal. CEO confirmed carve-out. Brave founder: 'revenue quid pro quo.' Fixed August 2022.
Kagi: BKagi doesn't track you and built anonymous search tech.
No ads/tracking/telemetry. Privacy Pass makes anonymous search possible. But: US jurisdiction. No published audit. 'Will comply with valid legal requests.' Privacy Pass optional.
Startpage: BIn 2019, System1 — an American advertising technology company — quietly acquired a majority stake in Startpage, the "world's most private search engine." Nob...
Majority owned by System1 (American adtech) via Privacy One Group since 2018. Not disclosed until researchers found filings. PrivacyTools removed recommendation. Board includes System1 co-founder.