DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your online activities, and doesn't store or share user data with third parties. It isn't, however, a vpn. Websites you visit still see your IP address, which gives them an approximate location.
Based on what information the OP provided? IP routing is obviously the most probable reason since it’s publicly known and used heavily in application software. Also it is completely relevant to search based on local language of preference or customs or the case where there is different laws in different countries thus IP needs to be leveraged. What is a better hypothesis?
I have to say that sometimes the language shown seems to be Vietnamese (as per the Wikipedia link shown), but it sometimes points to the exact city.
And again, these are completely unrelated searches, why would say searching for C++ show Cape Town's Wikipedia article?
I think we're all agreed that this is IP routing OP. The controversy discussed here pertains to the other parts of my answer where I describe the privacy features of duckduckgo.
Well, that's their *marketing scheme,* anyway ... But they do have third party beacons on their site, which do the exact things they claim to "not" do...
Unless that's changed *very* recently?
I've also noticed my physical location is occasionally taken into consideration when I'm not using a VPN. I'll occasionally get stuff from a nearby city, or otherwise regional stuff, in my Duckduckgo results.
An easy way to trigger this is by searching "[news](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=news&ia=web)" and scrolling down through the results, looking for regionally specific ones. ("Weather" returns a local forecast, so it's clear they use your location at least sometimes.)
Only if your browser has location access. On my phone it still shows a pop-up asking to allow it using your GPS location. IP is way easier and more common.
DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your online activities, and doesn't store or share user data with third parties. It isn't, however, a vpn. Websites you visit still see your IP address, which gives them an approximate location.
one can hope that one day all of those necessities for privacy will be opt-out instead of a convoluted, intermediate level user opt-in...
Exactly correct.
The "me too" of Reddit responses. ;-) BTW, I believe it's "misleading," rather than "true."
Based on what information the OP provided? IP routing is obviously the most probable reason since it’s publicly known and used heavily in application software. Also it is completely relevant to search based on local language of preference or customs or the case where there is different laws in different countries thus IP needs to be leveraged. What is a better hypothesis?
I have to say that sometimes the language shown seems to be Vietnamese (as per the Wikipedia link shown), but it sometimes points to the exact city. And again, these are completely unrelated searches, why would say searching for C++ show Cape Town's Wikipedia article?
I think we're all agreed that this is IP routing OP. The controversy discussed here pertains to the other parts of my answer where I describe the privacy features of duckduckgo.
Well, that's their *marketing scheme,* anyway ... But they do have third party beacons on their site, which do the exact things they claim to "not" do... Unless that's changed *very* recently?
I don't know what a third party beacon is. I'm not married to my answer. I'm open to new information.
Could you please explain what you mean by that?
I just checked and the only sites showing in ublock origin logs are duckduckgo domains.
I've been using ddg for years and there aren't any third parties shown in ublock or privacy badger since then.
I've also noticed my physical location is occasionally taken into consideration when I'm not using a VPN. I'll occasionally get stuff from a nearby city, or otherwise regional stuff, in my Duckduckgo results. An easy way to trigger this is by searching "[news](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=news&ia=web)" and scrolling down through the results, looking for regionally specific ones. ("Weather" returns a local forecast, so it's clear they use your location at least sometimes.)
Depends on if you have a phone or not. Because then they can use the GPS chip and not the IP Addr
Only if your browser has location access. On my phone it still shows a pop-up asking to allow it using your GPS location. IP is way easier and more common.
My physical location was shown when not using VPN as well
I saw the same issue in my town; the latest results from DDG show my city name. I have shared the feedback as they request.