{
  "slug": "falkon",
  "category": "browsers",
  "name": "Falkon",
  "description": "KDE web browser built on QtWebEngine, with a built-in ad blocker, session management, and integration with the Plasma desktop.",
  "website": "https://www.falkon.org",
  "source": "https://invent.kde.org/network/falkon",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "linux"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": null,
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 57,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Falkon scores 57 out of 100 (grade D) on the browsers criteria. It meets 4 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and no calls to big-tech services. It partly meets blocks trackers by default. It does not meet independent audit, fingerprinting protection and timely security updates.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/browsers/falkon/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/browsers/falkon/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://invent.kde.org/network/falkon/-/blob/master/COPYING",
      "note": "GPL-3.0."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://invent.kde.org/network/falkon",
      "note": "No telemetry or analytics in the source code."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://kde.org/donate/",
      "note": "Developed by the KDE community and funded by donations. No ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tracker_blocking": {
      "title": "Blocks trackers by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/KDE/falkon/blob/master/src/lib/adblock/adblockmanager.cpp",
      "note": "The built-in ad blocker is on by default with EasyList and NoCoin, but tracker lists such as EasyPrivacy must be added by hand."
    },
    "fingerprinting_protection": {
      "title": "Fingerprinting protection",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No fingerprinting protection is documented."
    },
    "no_google_services": {
      "title": "No calls to big-tech services",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://invent.kde.org/network/falkon",
      "note": "QtWebEngine has no Google Safe Browsing or other Google services, and no such connections are in the source code."
    },
    "security_updates": {
      "title": "Timely security updates",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://wiki.qt.io/QtWebEngine/ChromiumVersions",
      "note": "QtWebEngine is based on an older Chromium branch, and backported security fixes arrive with Qt releases, often weeks after Chrome."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:02:37.711Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}