karinakarina

Hi - I'm a person from Startpage. I'll share your feedback with the team, but here I can respond to some of these things.

JS: Startpage does use Javascript, but only to enhance user interaction with our site and improve the search results we provide.

ADs: Startpage displays at most 3 ads. Like other private search engines, Startpage's revenue model is based on contextual ads.

Let me know if you have questions or suggestions.

Startpage person here. In 2019, Startpage announced an investment by System1 through Privacy One Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of System1. It's 2021 and our privacy policy hasn't changed.

What has happened with this investment, we've hired additional engineers and added new features.

And, System1 doesn't receive any user personal data because we don't collect it and never will. Why did System1 invest? "System1 is interested in Startpage's ad revenue, not its data" Source: https://www.computing.co.uk/news/4017337/privacy-focused-sea...

Startpage person, here. Startpage doesn't collect user personal data so it wouldn't share it because it doesn't have it.

From Robert Beens (co-founder and CEO): "In no way does System1 want to change the privacy practices or process by Startpage, in fact, they legally cannot as all of those decisions are held by the co-founders of Startpage."

And,

"System1 is interested in Startpage's ad revenue, not its data"

Source - https://www.computing.co.uk/news/4017337/privacy-focused-sea...

Great list! Always looking for new tools to use. PrivacyTool.io and ThinkPrivacy.ch are great, but it helps to have something else to compare against.

Some quick notes on the actual list: - Should add Startpage - private search engine that gives Google results. - It doesn't explain why products to be avoided, just lists them. A few have explanations, but not all.

Do you like it?

Update: Slack quickly removes the ability to message strangers with DM invites over harassment concerns https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/24/22348743/slack-connect-dm...

That's a fair critique of the experiment. I like your method. Have you thought about doing it?

It depends on 1) what differentiates you from your competitors and 2) where most of your revenue will be coming from.

As mentioned above - I'm a Startpage employee. I know quite a bit about the subject so I jump in when it comes up.

Advertising on a search engine is main form of revenue > pays employees > updates > keeps current users and gets new users. You could make the argument for crowd sourcing, but it doesn't always work.

I'm wondering how they're getting access to data from cars all over the world "except Cuba and North Korea."

Does one database actually exist or are they tapping in from a number of sources. It all feels a little too sci-fi.

You're completely right, Big Tech gets away with a lot - including collecting/selling a ton of data to make profit. That's because their revenue model is based on behavioral advertising. For Startpage it's always been based on contextual advertising. And, you don't need personal data for that.

And, it happens that System1 is interested in "capturing" that revenue from contextual advertising.

"System1 is interested in Startpage's ad revenue, not its data," the company said. "The reason a company like System1 openly owns other search engines and consumer tech products like Info.com and Mapquest is that they want to capture that ad revenue that is slowly shifting to private search engines. There has been a steady increase in people using private search engines and therefore a steady increase in their revenue. It is a growing market that they feel will continue to thrive and grow." (https://www.computing.co.uk/news/4017337/privacy-focused-sea...)

That being said: At the end of the day, it all comes back to trust. Even with OSS, you have to trust that they won't change the code. And, you should use products that you trust to best protect your privacy.

(Startpage employee) Privacy policy hasn't changed and that's legally binding.

"Marketing messages can claim almost anything, but a privacy policy has legal status." - Robert E.G. Beens, Startpage CEO and Co-founder

If you have questions, let me know.

1) VPNs only hide your IP address. They don't make you anonymous. Search engines and websites can still track you.

2) If it's non-private, it still collects personal data.

3) Or Startpage - HQed in the Netherlands, hides IP address, Anonymous View feature lets you visit results in private, and Google results.

Okay maybe it won't overtake the tech giant but what about just providing a private choice? And what about Startpage? 1. Startpage provides Google results while protecting privacy. 2. So far, contextual marketing has been profitable for both Startpage and DDG. It's not Google level revenue, but interest in private search is growing significantly.

I disagree. Change is possible, though it may be a while before we see it across all mainstream products. But, the EU and California are making progressing in pushing Big Tech to making changes to their data collection policies, consumers are opting for privacy friendly products (DDG saw the dramatic increase in search of 62% in 2020), and companies are making structural changes in some of their products.

And yes, privacy law is needed to bring privacy back. But, it's also people and privacy friendly products. We have some power. Don't dismiss everyone because one company is too big.

Or use a private search engine.

For search: Use Startpage - gives you Google results with privacy.

For email: Most people have multiple emails - work, school, personal, from the early 2000s. It's not out of this world to switch to an encrypted email service.

Android: Never used it because I like iPhone. And, iPhone is a pretty great alternative to Android - definitely more private. But isn't there GrapheneOS and LineageOS?

If you’re on a VPN and you get blocked by Startpage, it usually means the IP address that you’re using is shared with spammers causing malicious traffic. Try releasing your IP address and getting a new one.

FYI: Startpage's anti-abuse mechanisms do not store your system's IP address. Startpage's team devised intelligent methods to filter out bots and abusive parties.

"None of these companies has yet said how they will handle requests from Hong Kong to block or remove content, and the risk of being caught in political crossfire looms large."

Hmm. I have a feeling Facebook will stay and comply.

Hi - Startpage person here. Maybe I can clear some stuff up.

1) Startpage provides Google results, but Google never sees you. Startpage submits your query to Google anonymously, then returns Google results to you privately. For more info on we keep your search private: https://www.startpage.com/blog/privacy-awareness/how-does-st.... 2) Startpage is HQ'ed in the Netherlands, meaning we don't have to comply with US government or law enforcement and comply with EU/Dutch privacy laws such as GDPR. Also, we’re not likely to receive requests by governments to hand over user data – simply because we don’t have any. 3) In 2019, Startpage announced an investment in Startpage by System1 through Privacy One Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of System1. With this investment, the plan is to further expand privacy features and reach new users. (Lots of new privacy features in the works!) The Startpage founders have control over the privacy components of Startpage. And! After conversations with the privacy community, Startpage was recently relisted in PrivacyToolsIO. More info on that: https://support.startpage.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Artic...

That's a lot of text, but I hope it helps.

FYI: With Startpage's Anonymous View feature you can visit search results in privacy.

For some, yes. It helps to have a budget for paid ads on IG though.

$60 feels quite steep when I could just use a notepad. I can see how someone might find it useful though. Perhaps if it was $15-$20, I might get one.

Yeah, I've used it for companies in the past (a major utility, plastic surgeons, and healthcare businesses).

Main struggle was getting valuable engagement and visual assets. I suggest getting a library of content and clear strategy before you begin.

It made it easier for people to find me online. Not sure if that's a good thing though.

When I'm interviewing, it helps showcase my writing skills and previous work. A lot of potential employers will ask if for writing samples and if I have experience in SEO/blog platforms. I usually direct them to my website/blog.

I also cover my interests and activities outside of work. I think it gives them a better picture of who I am - activist, researcher, and taco enthusiast.

I didn't even start as a content writer and now, I write content for Startpage's blog: https://www.startpage.com/blog/

Startpage is a search engine so it doesn't really sleep, hence no need for a bed or any bed-sharing. And we don’t collect or share your personal information.

And yes, we announced last year that System1/Privacy One invested in Startpage. Rest assured, the Startpage founders continue to run the company as before and they have control over the privacy components of Startpage. With this investment, we hope to further expand our privacy features & reach new users. More info on the investment: https://support.startpage.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Artic...

Hi! Startpage person here. Sorry to hear you've been experiencing issues with Startpage. You can always reach out to us via social or our support page: https://support.startpage.com/index.php?/Tickets/Submit/Rend.... It helps us let our team know of any issues that may affect users at large.

FYI: We're rolling out new privacy features this year. We hope you'll give us another chance. Thanks!

Hi - Startpage person here. Sorry to hear you stopped using Startpage. We hope you'll give us another chance. Here's more info on the investment by System1/Privacy One: https://support.startpage.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Artic...

Just FYI: We don’t collect or share your personal information. The Startpage founders continue to run the company as before and they have control over the privacy components of Startpage. With this investment, we hope to further expand our privacy features & reach new users. You may have already seen some of these new initiatives taking place. 1) Unfiltered News Tab launched in November: https://www.startpage.com/blog/product-updates/launching-unp... 2) Privacy Please! Newsletter launched in last month: https://www.startpage.com/blog/company-updates/welcome-priva... 3) We're pushing out more info via our blog & social than before, giving greater insight into how we make money (https://www.startpage.com/blog/privacy-awareness/advertising...) and how we keep your search private (https://www.startpage.com/blog/privacy-awareness/how-does-st...)

Hi - Startpage person here. Just FYI: We don’t collect or share your personal information. The Startpage founders continue to run the company as before and they have control over the privacy components of Startpage. With this investment, we hope to further expand our privacy features & reach new users. You may have already seen some of these new initiatives taking place. 1) Unfiltered News Tab launched in November: https://www.startpage.com/blog/product-updates/launching-unp... 2) Privacy Please! Newsletter launched in last month: https://startpage.com/blog/company-updates/welcome-privacy-p... 3) We're pushing out more info via our blog & social than before, giving greater insight into: How we make money - https://startpage.com/blog/privacy-awareness/advertising-res... How we keep your search private - https://www.startpage.com/blog/privacy-awareness/how-does-st...

I hear you. Your feedback is much appreciated and I'll share it with the team.