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DuckDuckGo announced a new feature in its browser that blocks most video ads, including YouTube ads, in a move that may give users another reason to move away from Chrome and Google services, which are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence.

How does the feature work?

The company explained that the YouTube ad detection and blocking system relies on open-source filter lists used in the uBlock Origin project, with additional custom rules from DuckDuckGo to improve the feature's performance within the browser.

The feature will be enabled by default for browser users on iPhone, Mac, and Windows, according to a report published by Digital Trends and seen by Al Arabiya Business.

As for Android users, they can currently enable it manually from the browser settings, with automatic activation in future updates.

The company also allows users to turn the YouTube ad blocking feature on or off at any time via the settings menu.

Essential condition

However, DuckDuckGo confirmed there is an important limitation: the feature only works when watching YouTube from within the DuckDuckGo browser, and cannot block ads inside the official YouTube app on smartphones.

Timely move

This step comes at a time when DuckDuckGo is seeing increased user interest, after Google announced extensive updates to its search engine, including features like AI Overviews and the conversational AI Mode.

DuckDuckGo markets itself as an alternative that gives users more control over the use of artificial intelligence, both in search and while browsing the web.

Competition with Brave

The company is thus following in the footsteps of the Brave browser, which has been known for years for blocking ads and trackers by default, including YouTube ads.

This approach has helped Brave surpass 120 million monthly active users, a milestone DuckDuckGo hopes to achieve by offering practical features that attract users away from traditional browsers.

Not a perfect feature

The company noted that the new feature may sometimes lead to increased video loading time or minor technical issues, but it sees these trade-offs as acceptable for users who want to watch videos without ad interruptions.

Thanks to this addition, DuckDuckGo strengthens its position as an attractive option for users seeking greater privacy and a calmer browsing experience away from intrusive ads and imposed AI features.

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