Our work is in danger!

Support our efforts for an open, European internet search with your donation.

Who do we trust with our data? Who controls what information we see in web search and AI? As long as a few tech giants determine the answers, our digital freedom is threatened – and with it our privacy and our democracy.

We are fighting for open, European alternatives in web search. We are transparent, independent, non-profit. Funded by people like you.

With your support, we can make digital sovereignty a reality!

Support us on the path to independent web search. Every donation counts! Thank you very much!

Find out more about the impact of your donation on our donation page.

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Donation account:
Kreissparkasse München Starnberg Ebersberg
IBAN DE33 7025 0150 0029 1295 25
BIC BYLADEM1KMS

Donation alert!

Together for a free, democratic internet!

The internet was once a free place for discovery, learning and research. But today, a handful of tech companies control access to knowledge on the web – even here in Europe. Their opaque algorithms determine what we find online – and what we don’t. That’s exactly what we’re changing!

Our mission: As a non-profit organisation, we are committed to open, transparent and public-interest-oriented web search.

A web search that serves people again – instead of the commercial interests of a few. We create the conditions for this on a technical, legal and ethical level. Humanistic, European values guide us in our work.

What exactly is it all about?

Today, commercially driven companies control the infrastructure of the web through opaque algorithms. Where the pursuit of profit and power interests prevail, our democracy is at risk. We believe that the infrastructure should follow open standards. An essential building block is the web index, the heart of AI chatbots and classic search engines. All web data is sorted and categorised in the web index. The USA has the Google and Bing indices; Russia and China each operate their own. Europe does not yet have a web index. But the first steps have been taken. We have:

launched an Open Web Index prototype together with 13 partners from seven European countries,
developed comprehensive ethical guidelines for public-interest-oriented internet search,
educated many politicians and citizens on why open, European alternatives MUST exist.

In doing so, we are making a decisive contribution to Europe’s digital sovereignty. And we are convinced that this will enable the internet to once again become the free space it once was:
a place that allows for diverse perspectives and promotes democracy.

Our mission is in danger!

We are currently financed though two funded research projects, which are coming to an end. One of them will already end in February 2026. We have not yet succeeded in securing stable follow-up funding. We urgently need to retain important know-how and expertise for the OSF’s work. We need your help to do this!

Support the mission for greater digital sovereignty in Europe with your donation – Together for a better net!

Donate now with PayPal

Donation account:
Kreissparkasse
München Starnberg Ebersberg
IBAN DE33 7025 0150 0029 1295 25
BIC BYLADEM1KMS

How we work

The Open Search Foundation connects experts in six specialist groups: Applications, Tech, Education + Literacy, Economy, Ethics, Legal, Tech.

Our projects

With projects ranging from #EthicsInSearch to the Horizon Europe project OpenWebSearch.eu to PriDi, we are working with partners to drive forward the development of the open web index. The third pillar and a very strong driver of open web search is the #OpenWebSearch community, which is promoting and advancing the topic.

Background

Why Open Search?

Dr. Stefan Voigt, geographer, researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and initiator of the Open Search Foundation:

“The algorithms and huge data pools of the major search engines are now commercially operated ‘black boxes’. We can’t look inside. We don’t know what companies are doing with our data. And we can’t judge which filters lead to the results that are presented to us.
That’s why we set up the Open Search Foundation. Just as road maps and land survey information are now public goods and accessible free of charge to all people, the Internet must also be mapped openly. Orientation on the Internet must become a public, transparent and freely available right.”

Join in

What can I do?

Getting smart

Learn more about search engines, privacy, network monopolies and data abuse. The Open-Search-Blog provides you with a great starting point. It’s where we present sources, specialist info and links to articles. Several times a year, the osf newsletter also provides an overview of the activities of the Open Search Initiative.

Talk about it

Make others aware of the issue. Spread the message to friends. Ask politicians to address the issue and strengthen the Open Search movement.

Actively promote

Support the Open Search Foundation actively through donations or become a sponsoring member. We also offer individual partnerships to companies and scientific institutions.

Find out more here:

Open Search Foundation e.V.

The Open Search Foundation e.V. is a European movement of people and organisations that work together to create the foundation for independent, free and self-determined access to information on the Internet. In cooperation with research institutions, computer centres and other partners, we’re committed to a searching the web in a way that benefits everyone. The promotion of research in the field of search engines, plus education and cooperation, form the pillars of our work.