Vivaldi recommends using Startpage instead of Google, do you consider this correct?
Surely you have had to surf the Internet to search for information, make purchases, pay bills, work, study, interact with others on social networks, and even to enjoy a pleasant time watching your favorite series or movie.
There are many alternatives of browsers and search engines to do this, but surely you are one of those who use Google as your default option. The universe of this technological giant offers many free services to make your life easier.
But have you ever wondered how a free service worth millions of dollars is supported?
The answer is very simple: by collecting a large amount of personal data about your identity, browsing habits, consumption, social relationships, among others, in order to build a profile (footprint) about you. This information is used to deliver targeted ads to you and encourage online surveillance by various actors. Imagine having 1,001 eyes looking over your shoulder as you browse the internet doing what you need or like to do.
This is a multi-billion dollar industry, as well as multiple political and social benefits tied to new forms of manipulation. What you consume is influenced, but so are the choices you make.
You completely lose your privacy and as a consequence your FREEDOM in the broad sense of the word.
As I always say: a society without privacy is doomed to lose its freedom. And from this, the fundamental human rights necessary to build a democracy.
In the last two years, privacy-oriented conversations, content, products and services have been amplified. They even say that 2022 is the year of privacy.
In the latter case, Vivaldi has decided to go further and further and offer its users the opportunity to try alternative search services such as Startpage, which uses Google's search engine, but without collecting your personal data. This negates the possibility of creating a unique digital footprint about you.
Some people see this as negative and invasive behavior. They see Vivaldi as trying to influence the users' decision instead of respecting their own choice.
In my opinion, I believe that if a browser promotes privacy as one of its main values in the services it offers, the right thing to do is to deliver what it promises. This is only possible by educating and helping to adopt privacy as a healthy life habit.
And since privacy is a collective issue, Vivaldi is taking many steps together with its users to help foster a culture and awareness towards the value of this essential human right in our digital life.