Google, Qwant – edited The Parliament frames the transition from Google to Qwant as part of its commitment to “digital sovereignty.”
The European Parliament has resolved to replace Google with Qwant, a privacy-centric French search engine, as the default on MEPs’ devices starting June 4.
This decision aligns with the EU’s initiative toward enhancing “digital sovereignty,” although reliance on Microsoft Office and other American software persists.
Commencing this Thursday, MEPs will no longer receive Google results upon entering queries in the address bar of Firefox or Edge.
Instead, the European Parliament will adopt Qwant, a French alternative characterized by its commitment to user privacy through non-tracking and non-collection of personal data, as per an internal communication disclosed by Euractiv.
While this action may seem minor, it carries significant symbolic weight. Google reigns supreme, commanding approximately 90% of the European search market, with EU institutions heavily dependent on U.S. software, notably the Microsoft Office suite.
The Parliament has framed this transition as a pledge to “digital sovereignty,” with the timing deliberately coinciding with the European Commission’s recent rollout of a series of proposals aimed at reducing reliance on American tech behemoths.
An intriguing aspect of this development lies with Qwant itself. Historically, the company has leveraged Microsoft’s Bing index to provide search results—raising questions about genuine independence.
However, Qwant is currently collaborating with its European counterpart, Ecosia, to develop its own search index, known as Staan.
This strategic pivot likely elucidates the Parliament’s decision as an investment in domestic digital infrastructure rather than a mere rebranding initiative.
It is essential to emphasize that no MEP is relegated to using Qwant exclusively. They retain the option to revert to Google or select any other search engine, as Qwant merely serves as the default choice for the Parliament’s 720 lawmakers and thousands of staff members.
Moreover, numerous dependencies—including Windows operating systems, Office applications, and various foreign-built communication devices—remain entrenched within the institution.
Source link: Notebookcheck.net.
