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
106 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
106 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
106 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
106 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
106 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
106 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

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
maxresdefault

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. New 'Slim'...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...