Europe starts a trial for the open web index to reduce reliance on search engines like Google and Bing

Europe moves forward with an Open Web Index trial, aiming to reduce dependency on Google and Bing by fostering alternative search engines.

: European organizations are initiating a trial for the Open Web Index to provide an alternative to Google's and Bing's dominance in search engines. This initiative stems from concerns over Google's control and optimization for ads and AI, encouraging the development of nonprofit search engine alternatives. The trial involves a 14-member consortium including universities and CERN, with a plan to provide one petabyte of content for exploration by June 6. The ultimate goal is to manage a larger five-petabyte resource, with a potential future increase to ten petabytes, allowing diverse applications free from the sway of American tech giants.

Europe is launching a trial for the Open Web Index (OWI) in an effort to reduce its dependence on dominant search engines like Google and Bing. The OWI aims to provide a publicly accessible web index that any search engine can use, functioning more like a digital library than a proprietary search backend. This could allow smaller, independent search engines to offer competitive services without being bound by commercial constraints set by tech giants.

The initiative is being led by OpenWebSearch.eu, a project funded by the European Union and launched in 2022. It brings together 14 research institutions and computing centers from across Europe. The project’s mission is to create an open, extensible web search infrastructure that aligns with European legal frameworks and values such as privacy, fairness, and digital sovereignty.

Alongside this, a joint venture called European Search Perspective (EUSP) has been formed by Ecosia and Qwant, two privacy-focused European search engines. Their goal is to build an independent index tailored to Europe’s needs, free from reliance on APIs provided by companies like Google and Microsoft. The project also seeks to lower API costs and empower local search innovation.

The OWI isn't just an alternative to existing indexes—it’s a foundation for new types of search experiences. Developers could build niche or multilingual search tools on top of it, enhancing diversity and relevance in web search. By encouraging this open infrastructure, Europe hopes to support a more pluralistic and user-focused internet.

Ultimately, this move marks Europe’s strategic attempt to reclaim digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign tech monopolies. If successful, the Open Web Index could serve as a model for other regions seeking to develop independent digital ecosystems.

Sources: TechSpot, Wired, TechCrunch

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