Google's reach in the digital world in undisputedly large. And many websites still rely on Google for various things.
For starters, many webmasters and web owners rely on Google for their scripts, or for its multitude of developer tools. Many websites need Google, not only because many of its products are free to use, but also because they're reliable and powerful. But the one thing Google lacks, is the ability to not siphon user activity.
All Google products send data to Google.
In one way or another, user data that is sent to Google's servers, in which the tech giant will analyze it to understand users' behavior, habits, and preferences.
DuckDuckGo has long claimed to be the anti-Google, in which it aims to preserve its users' privacy, by having them convert to anti-Google themselves.
This time, DuckDuckGo is trying to secure its users from the influence of Google, by blocking Google Sign-In popups on all of its apps and browser extensions.
On the vast web, signing up to a website may require effort.
But webmasters and web owners can use Google's Sign-In feature on their website as a single sign-on option. This allows visitors to sign in into the website using their own Google Account accounts.
The process of using Google's Sign-In feature is extremely easy. But since signing in means that users are being tracked by Google, there are chances that Google will know what they're doing on the website.
Though Google has given a statement that, "Data from Sign In With Google is not used for ads or other non-security purposes," DuckDuckGo believes otherwise.
DuckDuckGo still believes Google will continue collecting data no matter what.
"They popups are invasive, annoying and they undermine user privacy," said Peter Dolanjski, director of product for DuckDuckGo. "Google is employing a dark pattern by pushing you to sign in when you might not have otherwise. When you do, Google is is tracking what you do on those websites and linking it to your identity."
"See our testing in the attached image which shows Google is collecting data on sites when signed in with Google. For example, on investing.com, many requests are made to https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?,” said DuckDuckGo.
"This includes the full page url in the request parameters. In testing, if we’re not signed into the website with Google, the DSID cookie sent with these requests has a value of NO_DATA. If we are signed into the website with Google, the DSID cookie sent with these requests has a long hexadecimal value."
NEW: Have you seen these Google sign-in pop-ups lately? They may seem helpful but signing in actually gives consent to being tracked.
We just released Google Sign-in Pop-up Protection to help block the pop-ups in our apps and extensions. pic.twitter.com/i7LzbNphIc— DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) December 22, 2022
DuckDuckGo offers a privacy-focused search engine, email service, mobile apps, and data-protecting browser extensions.
Since the very beginning of its life, the company by Gabriel Weinberg has positioned itself as an alternative to search engines like Google, which has historically made huge money by following people around on the web, and targeting them with ads based on their personal data and browsing history.
Google has actually said that it would stop this practice. But again, it still collects user data.
And Google's Sign-In feature, is just one the ways Google could ensure that users are what they say they are.
"We believe google is pitching the popups to these websites as a win-win," added Dolanjski said.
"If they can get more users to sign in, it opens up more data collection both for Google and publishers, and it lets Google better target users with ads."