Ecosia and Qwant, two prominent European search engines, have announced a partnership to develop a new search index called European Search Perspective (EUSP). This initiative aims to reduce reliance on major U.S. tech companies like Google and Microsoft while promoting digital sovereignty in Europe. The new search infrastructure is set to launch in early 2025 in France, with plans to expand to Germany by the end of that year
Key Features of the European Search Perspective
- Privacy-Focused: EUSP will prioritize user privacy by not personalizing search results based on individual browsing histories, a significant departure from practices employed by Google.
- Sustainability and Innovation: Ecosia, known for funding tree planting through its ad revenue, and Qwant, which emphasizes privacy, aim to create a sustainable and innovative search engine that leverages generative AI technologies.
- Independent Infrastructure: The partnership seeks to establish an independent search index that will allow both companies to control their own search results without the constraints of external APIs from Bing or Google, which have seen rising costs.
Strategic Context
The formation of EUSP comes against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical concerns and the recent U.S. elections, prompting calls for greater technological independence in Europe. Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, highlighted the potential risks of dependency on U.S. technology, suggesting that European users could face significant challenges if access to American tech were restricted .Olivier Abecassis, CEO of Qwant, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of sovereignty in their operations.
Future Prospects
The EUSP is not intended to replicate Google's extensive toolset but aims to carve out a unique niche within the search engine market by focusing on privacy and sustainability. As they develop their own algorithms and refine their search capabilities, both companies hope to offer a competitive alternative that aligns with European values and regulatory frameworks like the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Overall, the collaboration between Ecosia and Qwant represents a significant step towards establishing a robust European alternative in the search engine landscape, potentially reshaping how users interact with digital information while safeguarding their privacy.