duck duck go isn't brick and mortar, but...

1. Google is an ISP, is DuckDuckGo an ISP?

2. Google is a telecommunications services provider, is DuckDuckGo a telecommunications services provider?

Those are two major categories that require data logging and retention in the U.S., and there are a lot of countries that have their own data logging and retention laws. Google because of it's size has active business presence in more countries and would therefore ensure itself to be compliant with local laws with more vigor than a significantly smaller company, especially one that was more focused on search. Google has it's hands in a lot of different kinds of businesses, many of which have already been targeted for logging and retention laws somewhere in the world.

The fact that Google owns an ISP is irrelevant to its search business. Not only are they unrelated, they are legally isolated in different corporations.