European Parliament to replace Google with French search engine Qwant

The European Parliament will replace Google with French search engine Qwant as the default search tool on its internal computers starting June 4, according to an internal communication seen by POLITICO.

Parliament officials informed lawmakers that Qwant would become the default search engine on institutional computers, describing the move as part of the body's commitment to "digital sovereignty and the protection of users' personal data."

Under the change, searches made through the address bars of Firefox and Edge browsers on Parliament devices will automatically be routed through Qwant. However, users will still be able to choose alternative search engines or modify their default settings.

Founded in 2013, Qwant promotes itself as a privacy-focused European search engine that does not track users or collect personal data, positioning itself as an alternative to Google's data-driven model.

The decision comes as the European Union intensifies efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology providers. The European Commission is expected to unveil a long-awaited technology sovereignty package on June 3 aimed at strengthening European digital capabilities and supporting homegrown alternatives to non-European technology firms.

The move also follows growing pressure from lawmakers to decrease the EU institutions' reliance on U.S. technology companies. In November last year, a cross-party group of 38 members of the European Parliament urged Parliament President Roberta Metsola to phase out Microsoft software and other foreign-made technologies, arguing that Europe's dependence on a small number of American tech giants had become a strategic vulnerability.

By Sabina Mammadli