This is the answer. Might be a (new?) part of their agreement

I still like DDG and recommend it. But I also recently switched to Kagi, a paid search engine, and have been quite happy.

I am getting so cynical I think I’m just gonna choose to reject this reality and hang onto my own and believe he’s actually serving time

This type of gross invasion should be illegal and land executives and developers in jail. Look at how Germany jailed VW executives and developers behind a massive emissions testing fraud incident. Enough is enough