Startpage is proud to be a privacy safe haven

As many companies and entities begin posting rainbow-spangled logos to celebrate Pride Month, we here at Startpage are choosing to mark the occasion in a different way. 

You need only glance at some recent headlines to see why. Governments across the United States and the world have been placing legal restrictions on things like books, performances, and healthcare that target members of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s no secret that we have users that span all sides of the political spectrum, and many of them might think that these laws are a good thing. No doubt many of them subscribe to the idea that these laws are necessary to protect children from harmful information. 

As a search engine, we have one question when it comes to these claims: when has information harmed anyone?

From day one, we’ve stood firm in our commitment to not only protecting the data and identity of every Startpage user, but also providing the same results and information to everyone. We believe that information is not only the lifeblood of a functional society, but the one thing that should span across any belief system or ideology. It’s why we provide users an alternative to the targeting algorithms and censored search results that reinforce their existing beliefs. True discussion and debate can only happen when information flows freely. And as a company with proudly Dutch roots, our heritage can’t help but cause us to be concerned any time laws seek to restrict information or the free expression of any identity. 

That’s why, during Pride Month, our thoughts are with those who are being targeted for who they are. We know better than most that privacy is more than just a way to keep unwanted entities out of our lives. For so many out there, privacy is survival. It’s a sanctuary where any of us can explore and find ourselves without being influenced or tracked. It’s the freedom to choose what empowers us without potentially finding ourselves in harm’s way. And above all else, it’s a right that we all have, regardless of how we identify. So to all those who can’t celebrate Pride, we’re proud to offer you this most basic and essential right. We believe the best way to stand with you is to help you stay safe.