Disconnect (software)

Disconnect is a partly open source[1] browser extension and mobile app designed to stop non-consensual third party trackers,[2] and providing private web search and private web browsing.[3] On mobile, it is available for Android and iPhone. It was developed by Brian Kennish and Casey Oppenheim. Disconnect-Search had once been the default search engine of the security-focused Tor Browser, which now uses DuckDuckGo.[4][5]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation compared the app to its own Privacy Badger browser plugin.[2]

The app was banned from the Google Play Store five days after its release in late August 2014. Google cited a violation of its Terms of Service which prohibit developers from using its store "to distribute apps that interfere with or disrupt the services of any third party".[2][6] This, however, attracted criticism from parties such as EFF (and Disconnect itself) which saw this app as privacy-friendly, and argue that Google's motivations are primarily based on the fact that this app interferes with ad-based revenue models of numerous companies, including Google itself.[2][7][8][9] The app was restored to the Google Play Store two weeks after its initial banning,[10] before being banned for a second time overnight.[11]

In June 2015, Disconnect filed an antitrust complaint against Google.[12]

See also

References
  1. Disconnect. "Online Privacy & Security".
  2. "Blocking Consumer Choice: Google's Dangerous Ban of Privacy and Security App". Electronic Frontier Foundation. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  3. Disconnect. "Online Privacy & Security". Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  4. "#14490 (Make Disconnect Search the default search engine for Tor Browser alpha) – Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki".
  5. "Why did my search engine switch to DuckDuckGo? - Tor Project".
  6. Google Bans Disconnect.me App From Play Store Based On Vague Guidelines
  7. "Google Banishes Disconnect Mobile App For Interfering with Its Lucrative Business : News : Headlines & Global News". hngn.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  8. "Why Google Banned Connect Mobile - Business Insider". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  9. Albergotti, Reed; Barr, Alistair; Dwoskin, Elizabeth (28 August 2014). "Why Some Privacy Apps Get Blocked From the Android Play Store - Digits - WSJ". Wall Street Journal. blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  10. "Disconnect Mobile Returns To The Play Store Two Weeks After Google Ban". 2014-09-08.
  11. "Disconnect Mobile yanked again from Google Play". 2014-09-09.
  12. "Disconnect.Me Files Antitrust Case Against Google In Europe Over Banned Anti-Malware Android App". 2015-06-02.
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