The Indonesian government has taken a bold and controversial step by officially banning the use of the popular search engine DuckDuckGo in the country. The decision, which was made due to concerns about the search engine’s facilitation of access to online gambling and pornography, has sparked a heated debate among internet users and human rights activists.
The ban was announced by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on Friday, following a series of complaints from various quarters about DuckDuckGo’s search results. According to the ministry, DuckDuckGo has been increasingly used by Indonesian internet users to access illicit websites that promote online gambling and pornography, both of which are illegal in Indonesia.
“We have received numerous reports and complaints about DuckDuckGo being used to access illegal content in Indonesia, particularly in relation to online gambling and pornography. As a result, we have decided to ban the use of DuckDuckGo in the country in order to protect the moral values of our society and prevent the spread of harmful content,” said a spokesperson for the ministry.
The decision to ban DuckDuckGo has sparked a backlash among internet users in Indonesia, many of whom rely on the search engine for its strong privacy protections and lack of tracking. DuckDuckGo is known for its strict privacy policy, which ensures that users’ search queries are not stored or shared with third parties, unlike other search engines like Google.
Human rights activists have also criticized the ban, arguing that it represents a violation of freedom of speech and expression. They have expressed concerns that the government’s move may set a dangerous precedent for further censorship of online content in Indonesia.
“This decision to ban DuckDuckGo sets a dangerous precedent for online freedom in Indonesia. It is a clear infringement on the rights of internet users to access information freely and without censorship. We urge the government to reconsider this decision and respect the right to privacy and freedom of expression,” said a spokesperson for a local human rights organization.
Despite the backlash, the Indonesian government has stood by its decision, emphasizing the importance of upholding moral values and protecting the public from harmful content online. The ban on DuckDuckGo is expected to come into effect immediately, with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology implementing measures to block access to the search engine across the country.
This move by the Indonesian government reflects a growing trend of countries cracking down on online content that is deemed harmful or illegal. It remains to be seen how this ban will impact internet users in Indonesia and whether it will lead to further restrictions on online freedom in the country.
