Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has taken issue with Samsung over the integration and positioning of Google Search in the upcoming One UI 9 update. The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding search defaults and competitive balance on Android devices.
While Samsung has long maintained a close partnership with Google across its Galaxy smartphone and tablet lineup, alternative search providers continue to advocate for fairer visibility and easier choice mechanisms for consumers. DuckDuckGo's criticism focuses on how search functionalities are handled in the South Korean tech giant's next-generation software.
The pushback comes amid heightened global scrutiny over default search agreements and anti-competitive practices between major hardware manufacturers and tech giants. How Samsung responds to these concerns could impact how search preferences are handled in future One UI releases.
For full details and further context on DuckDuckGo's statements, check out the original report on Android Authority.
