We are deeply concerned about the recent bans on the search engine DuckDuckGo in schools across New Zealand.

DuckDuckGo is known for its commitment to privacy, providing an important alternative to other search engines that track user data. Banning this search engine limits students' right to privacy and freedom of choice. It sets a disturbing precedent, as schools are supposed to nurture an environment where freedom of choice and respect for privacy are valued.

Students, as developing individuals, should have the right to decide how they navigate their digital lives. According to the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, every citizen has the right to keep his or her personal information confidential. Unfortunately, by excluding DuckDuckGo, these rights are compromised for our students (Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner's Office).

On top of this, New Zealand has not been very transparent, and it has been hard to find any news on this, despite there being uproar from students across many different schools.

We urge educational institutions and relevant authorities to reconsider this decision - for the sake of our students' privacy, freedom and their right to information access. Please sign this petition to support our cause.