AS WE pointed out in two separate articles recently [1, 2] (lots of research went into them, even if they're short) Startpage is going very dark, very malicious. It's still a surveillance company disguised as a privacy-respecting shelter. It spends a lot of money on media campaigns (to maintain the 'cover'). System1 is a very large "Sugar Daddy", so it can spare a buck or two (or even a million bucks) to glue/affix/attach some false labels. This has gone on for more than a year and the cover was secured for nearly a year.
"It's still a surveillance company disguised as a privacy-respecting shelter."Having inquired and reached out to people, including those whom we suspect to be working for Startpage/System1 (no response since we last mentioned it two days ago), we almost must conclude that there's a business relationship. Its nature, however, is unknown to us (courting, employing, contracting). There's an opportunity for the accused to issue a response; but they don't exercise the right of defense. Does that mean there's no valid defense? Running away is not a potent form of defense.
We suppose our readers now wonder, who is this all about and what was it all along? There are clues in our IRC channels, but not names... (we often redact names in the pursuit/interests of privacy).
"People who believe they enjoy discreetness online are in fact spied on by a surveillance giant. In some contexts or in oppressive nations this can lead to death."Well, we don't wish to name the culprits or divulge the proof just yet (as the names would inevitably become apparent). We are definitely not done and we shall 'drill on'. Eventually, the whole world needs to know what Startpage (or StartPage or ixquick) became. As a former user -- for about half a decade! -- I have much at stake too. I know a lot about this company. As they're pouring money into disinformation campaigns it is growingly important to refute them. People who believe they enjoy discreetness online are in fact spied on by a surveillance giant. In some contexts or in oppressive nations this can lead to death. ⬆