The influential website PrivacyTools.io has stated in a blog post that it no longer recommends the search engine Startpage in its list of recommended search engines. PrivacyTools removed Startpage after the latter received a questionable investment and the company could not provide sufficient clarification about it.
Startpage is an originally Dutch search engine that allows users to search the Internet anonymously. Behind the scenes, the site uses Google, but searches are not linked to unique sessions or user profiles. Startpage also offers a proxy service and other features that make it possible to search even more anonymously. PrivacyTools.io therefore recommended the search engine in its list of recommended search engines.
Startpage received an investment from the Privacy One Group, it revealed last month. The Privacy One Group is part of the ad company System1, which offers ads through the use of data profiles. Despite these companies operating in two different divisions, many critics feel this conflicts with Startpage's mission. PrivacyTools asked for clarification, but Startpage would not provide insight into how many shares Privacy One Group owns. Startpage is also not legally required to disclose this, and PrivacyTools says there is no evidence that Startpage is doing anything wrong. Still, the company can no longer recommend Startpage because of its high-profile investor and the evasive answers Startpage gives when asked.
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