Apple is in discussions to replace Google with DuckDuckGo on Safari

According to reports, Apple and DuckDuckGo are discussing about having DuckDuckGo take the place of Google as the default search engine in the private mode of the Safari browser. The specifics of these discussions are anticipated to be made public this week in connection with Google's antitrust hearings. The case's judge, Amit Mehta, decided to let the CEO of DuckDuckGo and an executive from Apple to testify publicly. 

The talks about potential deals between Microsoft and Apple and DuckDuckGo and Apple will be unsealed soon, Bloomberg report added. 

Last month, the US Department of Justice argued Google, which has some 90% of the search market, illegally paid $10 billion annually to smartphone makers such as Apple and wireless carriers like AT&T and others to be the default in search on their devices in order to stay on top. 

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was testified on Monday, saying that tech giants were competing for vast troves of content needed to train artificial intelligence, and complained Google was locking up content with expensive and exclusive deals with publishers. 

Nadella was testified about his company’s negotiations to persuade Apple to make Microsoft’s Bing the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser rather than Google. Nadella said Microsoft was willing to lose billions of dollars if Apple made the switch. 

Nadella has said that unfair tactics used by Google led to its dominance as a search engine, tactics that in turn have thwarted his company's rival programme, Bing.