Earlier this week, Apple tweaked the language on its Safari website to remove the claim that its web browser is the only one to offer non-tracking search engine DuckDuckGo as a built-in option. The original wording was added to Apple's website in October 2014 and remained unchanged until Tuesday night.

Safari-DuckDuckGo-Old-New
Before:

For example, it’s the only browser to offer DuckDuckGo — a search engine that doesn’t track you — as a built-in option.

After:

For example, Safari gives you the option to search the Internet using DuckDuckGo - a search engine that doesn’t track you - as a built-in option.

A source informed us that Apple made the change in response to a misleading advertising complaint received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the U.K. The claim was misleading because the Tor and Firefox web browsers have offered DuckDuckGo as a built-in option since 2012 and November 2014 respectively.

The marketing language has been corrected on the Safari website in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Singapore, and other English-language regions. Our source said more details will be published on the ASA website on June 15.

Apple's marketing has been the subject of several decisions from the ASA, which enforces strict advertising regulations in the U.K. The organization banned a television ad for the iPhone in 2008, while it ruled in Apple's favor in disputes related to the world's thinnest smartphone and misleading Siri advertising for the iPhone 4s in 2011.

Top Rated Comments

ArtOfWarfare Avatar
126 months ago
It's really time they demote Google to just being an option and stop making it the default.

People who care will change back to Google. People who don't will have security and privacy by default, and probably never notice (just like most people never noticed the change from Google Maps to Apple Maps.)

DDG FTW
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
126 months ago
It's really time they demote Google to just being an option and stop making it the default.

People who care will change back to Google. People who don't will have security and privacy by default, and probably never notice (just like most people never noticed the change from Google Maps to Apple Maps.)

DDG FTW
I'm a user and fan of DDG also, but I suspect Google is paying Apple a ton of money to stay the default search engine in Safari. I saw some earlier articles saying Google paid one billion dollars to be the iOS default search engine, so I think it is fair to assume a similar arrangement exists on the OS X side.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
!!! Avatar
126 months ago
So they're all over Apple with this little thing, yet I see so many commercials and in-app ads that are always misleading. Funny how whenever Apple does anything wrong, everyone is on their case, but when other companies do something wrong, no one really cares.

Also, does macrumors really think this a newsworthy story?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
126 months ago
This has to be one of the most insignificant articles I’ve ever read on MacRumors. I don’t know what Joe Rossignol was thinking when he decided to publish this. And I have no idea how his superior(s) approved this piss-poor story.

What’s next? Are we going to get an article telling us that Apple has started using a different brand of toilet paper in the restrooms at headquarters?
Others here seemed to find it interesting. Maybe you could just skip over articles you are not interested in.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
willmtaylor Avatar
126 months ago
I've liked DuckDuckGo for years, but ultimately, I always go back to Google as the results and filtering are just much better most of the time.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
126 months ago
I'm a user and fan of DDG also, but I suspect Google is paying Apple a ton of money to stay the default search engine in Safari. I saw some earlier articles saying Google paid one billion dollars to be the iOS default search engine, so I think it is fair to assume a similar arrangement exists on the OS X side.
Of course if DDG wanted to match Google's offer...
[doublepost=1465492871][/doublepost]
This has to be one of the most insignificant articles I’ve ever read on MacRumors. I don’t know what Joe Rossignol was thinking when he decided to publish this. And I have no idea how his superior(s) approved this piss-poor story.

What’s next? Are we going to get an article telling us that Apple has started using a different brand of toilet paper in the restrooms at headquarters?
Why? What have you heard?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

New MacBook Pros Could Now Arrive in March

Sunday February 8, 2026 6:02 am PST by
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...