DuckDuckGo for iPhone adds Copy Clean Link: link tracking removal arrives

DuckDuckGo says its July iOS browser update for iPhone adds Copy Clean Link, a small privacy feature that strips tracking identifiers out of links before you copy and share them.

On iPhone, you trigger it by pressing and holding the address bar in DuckDuckGo’s browser. From there, you can copy a cleaned-up version of the current URL instead of the full one. The result is a shorter link that’s easier to read and less likely to carry tracking data into a text, an eMail, or a social post. DuckDuckGo says Copy Clean Link removes common link-decoration tags, including Meta’s fbclid, Google’s gclid, Microsoft’s msclkid, and UTM parameters. Apple’s WebKit team has described those parameters as one way trackers can establish identity across sites.

What this really changes is sharing. It doesn’t stop all tracking, because any data collection that happens when the page loads may have already happened by the time you copy the link. Copy Clean Link also doesn’t block cookies, scripts, or fingerprinting. And some parameters do have a real purpose, for things like logins, saved searches, language settings, or attribution. Still, privacy advocates say stripping them out can matter, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive information.

If you already use DuckDuckGo on your iPhone, this is a useful update to install. Similar tools are already available in Brave and Firefox, and Apple has its own Link Tracking Protection in Messages, Mail, and Safari Private Browsing. The broader privacy mood matters here too: 73% of U.S. adults feel they have little control over data collection, and 75% of consumers say they won’t buy from companies they don’t trust with their data. The feature is available now in DuckDuckGo’s July iOS browser update.