Nocton wrote:AF62 wrote:Nocton wrote:
I don't know about London, but here in Lincolnshire DuckDuckGo gives a map and list of restaurants just as you describe. Both show three plus TripAdvisor and TimeOut. The list is not exactly the same, but, as I mentioned, I expect some pay to get nearer the top of a search list. As I mentioned and as DuckDuckGo explain, there is much more to Google's attack on one's privacy than adverts. No way would I accept that Google offers a "far superior service", but I am happy to accept that users get used to what they have and don't like to change.
If you want 'tailored services' then by the very nature of the beast they will have to track an assimilate information on you. It makes no difference whether that is Google or anyone else. I've used DDG and Google search for years, and accept that the convenience I get from the Google ecosystem outweighs the 'big brother' aspects of data collection. There's a lot of conspiracy theory around which suits the biases of both other organisations and individuals who like to embrace frankly borderline tin foil hat stuff.
TBH I worry more about database security with things like Govt. agencies who have my Tax/NI/Passport/DL/Age/Birthday et al information all stored away waiting to be hacked.
Unless you are going to go completely off grid, live in a tent and change your name by deed poll then you'll have to accept that no matter what you do there's a load of information about you out there on databases, and you can do nothing about it.