Indonesia said it has banned the privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo, citing concerns that it could be used to access pornography and online gambling websites which are illegal in the country, the communications ministry said on Friday.

Indonesia said it has banned the privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo, citing concerns that it could be used to access pornography and online gambling websites which are illegal in the country, the communications ministry said on Friday.

Indonesia, with the world’s biggest Muslim population, has strict rules that ban the sharing online of content deemed obscene. Social media platform Reddit and video-hosting platform Vimeo, opens new tab are blocked.

Usman Kansong, a communications ministry official, told Reuters that DuckDuckGo had been blocked “because of the many complaints made to us about the rampant online gambling and pornography content in its search results.”

The ministry did not say how DuckDuckGo differs from other search engines such as Alphabet’s, opens new tab Google but on its website, DuckDuckGo said it offered several products intended to “help people protect their online privacy” including the search engine, which it said has been praised by privacy advocates.

Indonesia has vowed to crack down on online gambling in recent months and has banned access to several such websites. Though illegal, government data showed 3 million Indonesians went online to gamble last year, spending an estimated $20 billion, or about 1.5% of gross domestic product.

  • tabular@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    I’m no fan of gambling but there are far better reasons to object. Hindering others’ freedom because of your own faith-based belief is a far worse sin.

    • Lee Duna@lemmy.nzEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      As I stated in other reply

      This is just some of BS public stunts, they are trying to hide and create misinformation to deceive people. The mastermind of the online gambling issue here, is one of their cronies. A businessman, this guy being protected by top military brass and former general including a new elected president.

  • hotpot8toe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    This is so weird. Bing enforces safe search on some countries(idk about Indonesia) which you can’t change. See below And DDG will show no results when it’s the case:

    Also, Duckduckgo has so little market share. 1.28% according to Statcounter. Which makes the decision weirder.

    My guess? This is just PR from their politicians to say “they are saving the country” or whatever bullshit without actually doing anything useful

    • Ace! _SL/S@ani.socialEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      My guess? This is just PR from their politicians to say “they are saving the country” or whatever bullshit without actually doing anything useful

      My guess? They’re trying to suck up to Google

    • Lee Duna@lemmy.nzEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      My guess? This is just PR from their politicians to say “they are saving the country” or whatever bullshit without actually doing anything useful

      This is just some of BS public stunts, they are trying to hide and create misinformation to deceive people. The mastermind of the online gambling issue here, is one of their cronies. A businessman, this guy being protected by top military brass and former general including a new elected president.

    • Warl0k3@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      Totally unrelated to the OP but damn I’m impressed that DDG is such a large percentage of the market. 1.28% sounds like nothing but I can’t even guess how many millions of searches that is, that’s absolutely wild. well done duckfriends.