What is GPC (Global Privacy Control) in DuckDuckGo?
Privacy is at the top of the mind for almost everyone. People take all kinds of measures to protect privacy like using VPNs, disallowing cookies, limiting trackers, and more.
But is there a standard protocol that helps in protecting people’s privacy online?
Well, today we are going to find that out.
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Global Privacy Control is a setting in DuckDuckGo that signals to the participating websites to not sell or share your personal data. This setting is turned on by default in the app and it ensures your privacy online.
What is GPC in DuckDuckGo?
GPC or Global Privacy Control is an initiative that helps users protect their privacy. When enabled, it tells the websites that you should not share or sell the user’s data.
According to the GPC website, “Global Privacy Control (GPC) is a proposed specification designed to allow Internet users to notify businesses of their privacy preferences, such as whether or not they want their personal information to be sold or shared. It consists of a setting or extension in the user’s browser or mobile device and acts as a mechanism that websites can use to indicate they support the specification.”
This was a general introduction to what GPC is.
Now I must tell you what GPC is in DuckDuckGo.
In DuckDuckGo, GPC is a feature that will block many trackers online once turned on. Essentially, you can ask the participating websites that you don’t want them to sell or share your personal data.
Here is what this setting looks like in their mobile app.
According to the official documentation by DuckDuckGo, “Our DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser mobile app and our DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials browser extension already include seamless private search, tracker blocking, and smarter encryption.”
But DuckDuckGo and many other websites started this initiative because they want to provide an additional **legal** layer of protection.
How does GPC Work?
When you turn on the GPC setting, it will send a signal to all websites, letting them know your privacy preferences. This feature ensures that they don’t misuse your data.
There are numerous web browsers that allow GPC such as DuckDuckGo, Brave, Firefox, Abine, and more.
To get this to work, you first need to install a GPC-focused browser, like DuckDuckgo.
Then you need to turn on the GPC setting in the app. It is good to note that most of the time this setting is turned on by default.
Your browser will then send the signal to every website you visit, letting them know that you dont want them to sell your data.
This process will help you get your privacy in your control. The official GPC website has made a great visual to understand it better:
Additionally, In California, Section 1798.135(c) of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) gives users the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information.
And the GDPR gives users the right to object to their personal data being processed.
So you can be sure that your information is not processed in any bad form.
Is GPC for you?
This option is good for people who are extra concerned with their privacy. If you are using Chrome or Edge as your default browser, then, it’s best to switch to a privacy-focused browser. And if you are wondering, DuckDuckGo has already made it turned on by default.
But if you don’t care much about sharing information, then you can consider turning it off or continuing to use your regular browsers like Chrome and Edge.
Final Words
It is true that privacy-focused browsers were already providing features that protect the privacy of users like private search, tracker blocking, and smarter encryption.
But GPC is backed by legal protection, and hence, you can be extra sure.
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