Warning before using Apple Maps

area69

One of Kagi's pillars is privacy, but the maps tab doesn't use first-party map data, instead, your query is sent to Apple and your browser connects to Apple servers to request map data. Apple is a third-party, so it would be better to let the user know, sort of like DuckDuckGo does with YouTube video embedding, or proxy it.

A dialog that says, "Connecting to Apple Maps [description] Kagi uses Apple Maps while Kagi Maps is in beta. Your query and browser data will be handled by Apple Maps during your maps session. [Confirm?] [Deny]" would suffice.

This dialog would only show up once.

Vlad

area69 just to confirm I have not seen that dialogue on DDG (and it also uses Apple Maps)? Is there a difference in implementation?

area69

Vlad

sort of like DuckDuckGo does with YouTube video embedding

My example was with YouTube embedding.

Vlad

area69 I understand. I am asking if the DDG shows similar message for Apple maps, and if not why not?

area69

Vlad DDG does not show a message for Apple Maps, I guess it's just a developer preference. I believe a user should be warned before their data is handled unproxied with a third-party though.

Vlad

area69 We plan to proxy Apple maps soon so this should not be an issue anymore. It is curious why DDG does not proxy or show that warning - perhaps Apple is considred privacy preserving?

area69

Vlad Apple isn’t the worst when it comes to privacy, so that’s possible. However, no matter how privacy preserving something is, it’s always better to keep stuff first-party. I’m already trusting Kagi with my search query, so why trust another?

Unsigned3894

I just came here because I had the same issue.
I'm a new paying customer.
I used !maps and saw it's redirecting me to kagi.com/maps
so I thought: Okay, it's a Kagi implementation.

Then I had to search the docs to find just a one liner where it's mentioned that it uses apple maps. I never used Apple maps before and I feel uncomfortable that my data get sent to Apple without asking me.
It's also misdirecting that it's hosts under Kagi without any further information.

Solutions:

Inform me first what maps I'm gonna use
Ask me what maps I want to use
Exend the documentation and make a new chapter about apple maps used by kagi