#FreeWebSearch Charter
Search for the Common Good
![‘[…] When search engines operate in a non-transparent manner, journalistic work becomes invisible — and devalued. […]’ Danica Bensmail Federal Managing Director dju (German Union of Journalists)](https://freewebsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025_FWSD_Charter_SoMe_Statements_Bensmail_E2-300x300.png "2025_FWSD_Charter_SoMe_Statements_Bensmail_E2")
Web search belongs to all of us.
Together we can reclaim it!
See people and organisations supporting the call
Web search belongs to all of us.
Initial Signatories
The #FreeWebSearch Charter was developed on the initiative of the Open Search Foundation e. V. A large number of people were involved in its development, including members of the Open Search Foundation’s Ethics Group and project members of the EU project OpenWebSearch.eu, and is supported by numerous stakeholders from civil society, science, culture, business and the media.
The creation of the charter was supported by Stiftung Mercator as part of the #EthicsInSearch project.
Organisations
Individuals
Definitions + FAQs
Who is the charter aimed at?
Web search touches every aspect of our digital lives – we all use it daily to navigate the internet, access knowledge, make decisions, and participate in society. Behind these searches lies a vast ecosystem where numerous companies generate billions in revenue, while shaping what information reaches billions of users worldwide.
This charter speaks to everyone who recognises that web search has become too important to be left solely to market forces. But we especially address those with the power and means to transform web search back into a service that truly benefits society:
Policymakers and regulators who can create and enforce frameworks ensuring web search serves democratic values rather than just commercial interests. You have the legislative tools to mandate transparency, protect privacy, and prevent monopolistic control over information access.
Researchers and academics who study the societal impacts of search technologies, develop alternatives, and provide evidence for better policies. Your work illuminates how search shapes knowledge, democracy, and human behaviour.
Civil society organisations and digital rights advocates who champion user rights, fight discrimination, and ensure marginalised voices aren’t silenced by algorithms. You are the watchdogs protecting the public interest.
Journalists and media professionals who depend on and report on web search, helping the public understand these opaque systems. You play a crucial role in holding tech companies accountable.
Search engine providers and technology companies – both established players and newcomers – who can choose to prioritise societal benefit alongside profit. You have the technical expertise to build ethical alternatives.
Entrepreneurs and innovators developing new approaches to information discovery. You can challenge the status quo with privacy-respecting, transparent, and diverse search solutions.
Educators and librarians who teach critical search literacy and provide alternative pathways to knowledge. You equip people to navigate information landscapes thoughtfully.
Content creators and publishers whose work fuels the web but who often lack control over how it’s discovered and monetised. You deserve fair treatment in search ecosystems.
And ultimately, all of us as users – because only through collective awareness and action can we reclaim web search as a public good. While existing regulations provide some protections in certain regions, these achievements must be defended and expanded globally. The principles in this charter represent what should be universal standards, regardless of where you live or which search engine you use.
Who is behind the charter?
This charter was developed on the initiative of the Open Search Foundation e. V. A large number of people were involved in its development, including members of the Open Search Foundation’s Ethics Group and project members of the EU project OpenWebSearch.eu, and is supported by numerous stakeholders from civil society, science, culture, business and the media.
The creation of the charter was supported by Stiftung Mercator as part of the #EthicsInSearch project.
What do we mean by ‘Web Search Systems’?
‘Internet search’ or ‘web search’ does not consist solely of search engines, the part we see when searching the web. Behind them lies a very complex system of interlocking layers, such as web crawlers or indexes, all of which have an impact on what we ultimately find.
Today, web search extends beyond traditional search engines like Google or Bing to include AI-powered systems (chatbots, generative models) or platform-internal search functions (YouTube, Amazon, social media). These boundaries are increasingly blurred: AI assistants draw from search indexes, social platforms function as primary information sources, and traditional search engines integrate AI-generated answers.
We view web search as a socio-technical ecosystem—not merely technology, but a system that shapes access to knowledge, public discourse, and democratic participation. This ecosystem includes its technical infrastructure, economic models, and societal impacts.
To emphasise that our principles apply across all these systems and infrastructural layers, we use the term ‘Web Search Systems’ throughout this text.
How do we understand ‘Diversity’?
Diversity means the full spectrum of legal, human rights-compliant perspectives and voices. This encompasses all content that:
- respects universal human rights and human dignity,
- complies with democratic legal frameworks,
- does not promote violence, hatred or discrimination.
But there are laws already in place. Aren’t those enough?
Building on Existing Foundations
Various laws and regulations already address aspects of web search, ranging from the EU’s comprehensive digital legislation to privacy frameworks such as the GDPR, as well as sector-specific rules worldwide. We acknowledge these important foundations. However, these regulations often treat search as just another digital service, failing to recognise its unique role as society’s gateway to information. Furthermore, enforcement is weak and implementation is inconsistent, leaving billions of people worldwide unprotected.
This charter therefore calls for:
- examining how existing laws apply specifically to web search;
- enforcing current regulations more effectively;
- extending protections globally using successful frameworks as models.
- addressing gaps where search-specific provisions are needed.
The principles and demands set out in this charter should be considered universal standards, regardless of jurisdiction, market power or technological approach.
These include, but are not limited to: The EU’s AI Act, Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act and GDPR; the US’s Section 230 and antitrust law; the UK’s Online Safety Bill; and various national media and competition laws. These provide important, yet incomplete, frameworks.
My question is not answered on the website. Who can I contact?
Write an email to:
Are there any search engines that align with the ideals set out in the charter?
Probably not yet. This is not because the alternatives to pre-installed search engines do not want to meet these standards, though. It’s more because the vast majority have to rely on the web indexes of major tech companies such as Google, including their conditions, for their services. Building and maintaining a comprehensive web index is very resource-intensive and expensive. Furthermore, if alternative search engines are not used, they do not have the opportunity to improve.
This is precisely why we need to demand better conditions for search engines that serve the common good, in order to give them a chance to emerge and survive.
In the meantime, we encourage to try some of the more privacy-friendly alternative search engines, such as Mojeek, DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or Brave. Using one of these alongside a privacy-friendly browser such as Firefox, Brave or Librewolf is even better.
There are also a number of special-interest search engines, such as Marginalia Search, MWMBL.org, Alexandria.org and Nona, that try to do things in a more privacy-friendly and purpose-oriented way.
Further information
Supplementary Notes to the Charter – Further background information to the #FreeWebSearch Charter and concrete implementation approaches can be found in the explanatory notes.
Information for members of the Press
For interview requests and further information, please contact our media team at media@freewebsearch.org or +49 178 601 49 10. We are happy to answer your questions and provide you with contacts and the latest topics.
Further Information
#FreewebSearch Charter has been initiated by:
Open Search Foundation e. V.
Schorn 6 | D-82319 Starnberg
www.opensearchfoundation.org
For the petiton we use the platform openpetition.org.
Contact
To get in touch with us, please send an email to:
charter@freewebsearch.org
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