Apple Tweaks Safari Marketing Language to Correct Misleading DuckDuckGo Claim

[MacRumors]

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.

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.

Article Link: Apple Tweaks Safari Marketing Language to Correct Misleading DuckDuckGo Claim

 

[!!!]

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?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

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

 

[captain cadet]

It seems like this was put up before Firefox had duck duck go and that someone at marketing got confused with that tor is a web browser and just forgot to update the site

 

[Adithya007]

"News and Rumors you care about"

 

[willmtaylor]

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.

 

[BeefCake 15]

When we're 4 days away from WWDC and this is headline news, Editors of this site should be weeping in shame...

 

[JaJaWa]

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?

The ASA responds to reports. You may consider reporting these "other companies" to the ASA.

 

[JosephAW]

Apple needs to follow in opera's footsteps and offer anonymous proxy service for phone & desktop

 

[iOSFangirl6001]

Am I the only one that thinks "Duck Duck Go" sounds like "Duck Duck Goose" ? Lol

Jokes aside onto replies

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?

Hypocrisy is alive and well lol
Thriving in fact

"News and Rumors you care about"

Lol

 

[H2SO4]

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

No. The correct way to do it would be to ask the user the first time they open Safari.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Am I the only one that thinks "Duck Duck Go" sounds like "Duck Duck Goose" ? Lol

Jokes aside onto replies

Actually that was the intent of the name.

 

[djang0]

title.replace("Misleading", "False");

 

[69Mustang]

When we're 4 days away from WWDC and this is headline news, Editors of this site should be weeping in shame...

Shame? They're reporting on Apple news. What would you have them report on, Siri's new cute trained seal responses?

Also, does macrumors really think this a newsworthy story?

An article about Safari, their marketing arm, DDG, privacy, and getting correct information to customer... well I know it's not about new watchbands but yeah, it's newsworthy.

 

[iOSFangirl6001]

Actually that was the intent of the name.

Well file that under
#TheMoreYouKnow

Makes sense then

 

[Shirasaki]

AT&T should also be sued by abusing "unlimited", ASA should ban companies using "unlimited".

This is a case I can ever remember about misleading advertisement. Yet, there are just too many of them in the wild.

 

[iOSFangirl6001]

AT&T should also be sued by abusing "unlimited", ASA should ban companies using "unlimited".

This is a case I can ever remember about misleading advertisement. Yet, there are just too many of them in the wild.

Uhh what?
Why?
Banning is harsh. Some punishment sure but banning is a bit excessive.

Also many people know ( tho granted far more should than currently do )

Unlimited NEVER seems to truly mean "unlimited" there's always limits, restrictions, fine print, catch 22's ( or eventually throttling if we are talking strictly data. )

This topic right now is like beating a dead horse. Even T-Mobile for all their customer pandering, gifts/freebies ( bribes ) , flashy "Uncarrier moves" still has restrictions and or fine print of some sort

No carrier or business is 100% pro consumer, 100% BS Free , or without flaw all the time.

Not saying that should get a free pass but it often does.

 

[m.x]

I would love to see startpage.com as an option. DuckDuckGo is great for privacy, but unusable because of the algorithm. Startpage.com is sooooo much better, it uses google but hides your personal information completely.
If you haven't heard from it, try it, it's great!

 

[Nozuka]

No. The correct way to do it would be to ask the user the first time they open Safari.

Alot of people are annoyed by that. It's better to set things to something most people will be happy with and let everyone change it if they want.

 

[Weaselboy]

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.

 

[Rafagon]

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?

 

[doelcm82]

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?

 

[Weaselboy]

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.

 

[Mactendo]

Unlimited NEVER seems to truly mean "unlimited" there's always limits, restrictions, fine print, catch 22's ( or eventually throttling if we are talking strictly data. )

In some places unlimited is unlimited.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Shame? They're reporting on Apple news. What would you have them report on, Siri's new cute trained seal responses?

An article about Safari, their marketing arm, DDG, privacy, and getting correct information to customer... well I know it's not about new watchbands but yeah, it's newsworthy.

That's news worthy for that right side column where people barely check for information but not front page news...any case, it's moved now.