Rather use an open source search engine like SearxNG . If you don't want host your own search engine, then use a third-party hosted one: https://searx.space/ and probably switch from time to time. Sometimes the search results are slower or not as good, but that is a price I pay.
Exactly this. I read the article in the post and thought it actually sounds like a nice service, but after getting this ad when searching "depression" on DDG last year, I don't think I'll ever trust them again lol.