Aurélien Mähl 🇪🇺
@apmaehl.bsky.social
Policy @ DuckDuckGo. Follow for Tintin memes and tech/competition policy (or both). Brussels | Berlin
I posted a couple times about how DuckDuckGo uniquely integrates AI answers to the search experience. But you better actually hear directly from Tim, one of those making the magic internally.
"Search Assist is "unique in that way across the AI answers industry, in that it...
"Search Assist is "unique in that way across the AI answers industry, in that it...
September 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I posted a couple times about how DuckDuckGo uniquely integrates AI answers to the search experience. But you better actually hear directly from Tim, one of those making the magic internally.
"Search Assist is "unique in that way across the AI answers industry, in that it...
"Search Assist is "unique in that way across the AI answers industry, in that it...
Me facing the CMA reports published right before the holidays
July 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Me facing the CMA reports published right before the holidays
People with iPhones have been telling me that they're seeing these sort of phishing popups on Gmail, Google Maps and the like more these days.
With a small, grey "standard browser" at the bottom...in case, you know, Google wanted to respect your choice.
With a small, grey "standard browser" at the bottom...in case, you know, Google wanted to respect your choice.
July 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
People with iPhones have been telling me that they're seeing these sort of phishing popups on Gmail, Google Maps and the like more these days.
With a small, grey "standard browser" at the bottom...in case, you know, Google wanted to respect your choice.
With a small, grey "standard browser" at the bottom...in case, you know, Google wanted to respect your choice.
I'm sure the European Commission communications officials persisting use of the the word "adoption" to qualify proposals that have been put forward explains in part why so much of the media confuses EU legislative proposals with EU (actually adopted) laws.
July 3, 2025 at 9:04 AM
I'm sure the European Commission communications officials persisting use of the the word "adoption" to qualify proposals that have been put forward explains in part why so much of the media confuses EU legislative proposals with EU (actually adopted) laws.
Interesting #DMA conversation today hosted by @euractiv.com
@beuc.eu's Sebastien nailed it when he said that the DMA did bring more choice, but there is still way too much friction, unnecessary warning screens and the likes that effectively suppress free choice. 1/n
@beuc.eu's Sebastien nailed it when he said that the DMA did bring more choice, but there is still way too much friction, unnecessary warning screens and the likes that effectively suppress free choice. 1/n
June 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Interesting #DMA conversation today hosted by @euractiv.com
@beuc.eu's Sebastien nailed it when he said that the DMA did bring more choice, but there is still way too much friction, unnecessary warning screens and the likes that effectively suppress free choice. 1/n
@beuc.eu's Sebastien nailed it when he said that the DMA did bring more choice, but there is still way too much friction, unnecessary warning screens and the likes that effectively suppress free choice. 1/n
Surprise surprise (from @leehepner.bsky.social )
May 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Surprise surprise (from @leehepner.bsky.social )
To publish this in the current climate really feels short-sighted. The ITI should be careful what it wishes for.
April 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
To publish this in the current climate really feels short-sighted. The ITI should be careful what it wishes for.
Thanks CERRE for having me last week at the panel on "DMA implementation unpacked"! The video of our panel is below. I shared DuckDuckGo's views that DMA frustration is mostly due to gatekeeper obstruction and renewed our calls to start investigations on Google 🧵
youtu.be/KIH9q-0ykD4?...
youtu.be/KIH9q-0ykD4?...
April 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Thanks CERRE for having me last week at the panel on "DMA implementation unpacked"! The video of our panel is below. I shared DuckDuckGo's views that DMA frustration is mostly due to gatekeeper obstruction and renewed our calls to start investigations on Google 🧵
youtu.be/KIH9q-0ykD4?...
youtu.be/KIH9q-0ykD4?...
Toute ressemblance avec la réalité est purement fortuite
March 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Toute ressemblance avec la réalité est purement fortuite
Daniel Ek tonight in Brussels:
The DMA is an innovation enabler (if enforced)
Ideas are great but what companies need to make them flourish are talents and capital. Retaining & leveraging both should be Europe's focus
The DMA is an innovation enabler (if enforced)
Ideas are great but what companies need to make them flourish are talents and capital. Retaining & leveraging both should be Europe's focus
February 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Daniel Ek tonight in Brussels:
The DMA is an innovation enabler (if enforced)
Ideas are great but what companies need to make them flourish are talents and capital. Retaining & leveraging both should be Europe's focus
The DMA is an innovation enabler (if enforced)
Ideas are great but what companies need to make them flourish are talents and capital. Retaining & leveraging both should be Europe's focus
Yesterday, we at DuckDuckGo and @article19law.bsky.social had the pleasure of convening a discussion on competition in the search engine market. Our hosts @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social each delivered remarks that resonated strongly with the audience, calling on...
February 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Yesterday, we at DuckDuckGo and @article19law.bsky.social had the pleasure of convening a discussion on competition in the search engine market. Our hosts @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social each delivered remarks that resonated strongly with the audience, calling on...
Excited to be organising this event in Brussels with @article19.bsky.social soon, kindly hosted by @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social.
Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/3
Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/3
January 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Excited to be organising this event in Brussels with @article19.bsky.social soon, kindly hosted by @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social.
Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/3
Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/3
Thrilled to partner with ARTICLE 19 in February for an event on competition in the search engine market, kindly hosted by @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/2
December 20, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Thrilled to partner with ARTICLE 19 in February for an event on competition in the search engine market, kindly hosted by @aschwab.bsky.social and @syoncourtin.bsky.social Almost a year since its application, has the Digital Markets Act delivered on its promises for the search engine market? 1/2
Is the DMA meeting its goals - thanks to behavioral economics? Insightful discussion this morning at Charles River Associates's #BrusselsConference_CRA with top thinkers & enforcers in choice architecture. I don't think this sort of convo would have happened pre-DMA outside of academic circles. 1/2
December 10, 2024 at 11:33 AM
Is the DMA meeting its goals - thanks to behavioral economics? Insightful discussion this morning at Charles River Associates's #BrusselsConference_CRA with top thinkers & enforcers in choice architecture. I don't think this sort of convo would have happened pre-DMA outside of academic circles. 1/2
Packed room at #BrusselsConference_CRA today. Find me for coffee! I'm the guy with the DuckDuckGo hat.
December 10, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Packed room at #BrusselsConference_CRA today. Find me for coffee! I'm the guy with the DuckDuckGo hat.
Ending a captivating couple days in Strasbourg! As we near the end of the cycle of political appointments, the visit was a particularly interesting time to understand how the European Parliament is seeing its role in the new mandate. DMA, DSA, maybe in the future data protection and...
November 28, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Ending a captivating couple days in Strasbourg! As we near the end of the cycle of political appointments, the visit was a particularly interesting time to understand how the European Parliament is seeing its role in the new mandate. DMA, DSA, maybe in the future data protection and...
Don't get me started on Android, where Google did not make it easier to switch since the DMA, they made it HARDER. Here's a quick screenshot from my Samsung, where the "universal search" (or "on-device search") bar, a feature similar to Spotlight on iPhone, won't let me switch away from Google.
November 26, 2024 at 12:32 PM
Don't get me started on Android, where Google did not make it easier to switch since the DMA, they made it HARDER. Here's a quick screenshot from my Samsung, where the "universal search" (or "on-device search") bar, a feature similar to Spotlight on iPhone, won't let me switch away from Google.
Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. Chrome could just let search websites re-direct users straight to the setting, like is common for localization or notifications settings. See our mock-up below. Only reason they don't make people's life simpler is because it'd cost them users.
November 26, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. Chrome could just let search websites re-direct users straight to the setting, like is common for localization or notifications settings. See our mock-up below. Only reason they don't make people's life simpler is because it'd cost them users.
We had to remove the "install extension" button cause Google was getting too many users to deactivate the extension. We found it was preferable to show then *an explainer* on how to do it in settings.
November 26, 2024 at 12:28 PM
We had to remove the "install extension" button cause Google was getting too many users to deactivate the extension. We found it was preferable to show then *an explainer* on how to do it in settings.
Trying to install a competing search extension on Chrome (which changes your search default)? Are you SURE you don't want to keep Google? REALLY SURE?
November 26, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Trying to install a competing search extension on Chrome (which changes your search default)? Are you SURE you don't want to keep Google? REALLY SURE?
This is spectacularly ironic. Google just launched an anti "dark patterns and deceptive tactics" coalition, solely directed at Microsoft's practices on browsers. Let's remember how Google completely disregards its own stated precepts when it comes to search defaults 🧵
November 26, 2024 at 12:22 PM
This is spectacularly ironic. Google just launched an anti "dark patterns and deceptive tactics" coalition, solely directed at Microsoft's practices on browsers. Let's remember how Google completely disregards its own stated precepts when it comes to search defaults 🧵
"AI will revolutionize platform recommendations"
Facebook Marketplace as I look for chairs:
Facebook Marketplace as I look for chairs:
November 5, 2024 at 12:50 PM
"AI will revolutionize platform recommendations"
Facebook Marketplace as I look for chairs:
Facebook Marketplace as I look for chairs: