From its humble beginnings as a project at Stanford University that brilliantly revolutionized the way we organize information, Qwant has grown into an online behemoth that has become almost impossible to resist.
We are pleased to present to you some influencers, personalities and associations who revolve around Qwanturank, share the same values as us and are ready to answer our favorite question: “What do you want?
Here is Damien Relaja’s response.
“What I want: my quest for a fairer search engine”
From its humble beginnings as a project at Stanford University that brilliantly revolutionized the way we organize information, Google has grown into an online behemoth that has become almost impossible to resist. This was very helpful, but there may also have been abuse. As a result, this powerful multinational media company is facing increasing scrutiny from European Union (EU) regulators over its apparently questionable tracking practices, allegations of tax evasion and its allegedly unfair search algorithms – all to favor its own vertical products and services, to the detriment of its users and competitors.
Let’s be realistic: almost everyone uses Google and it seems impossible to limit its influence online in our daily lives. However, I believe that with the collective actions of ordinary internet users like me, we can help change this frustrating online landscape.
When John McAfee asked people to avoid Google to defend Internet users’ privacy, it elegantly addressed the conflicting issue of being tracked and remaining free. Long before I heard about McAfee’s speech, his beliefs about privacy already resonated with my own personal philosophy, and as of 2010, I moved from Google to Yandex, a Russian search engine. I tried using Yandex as often as possible, but it never seemed to give me any relevant results. I’ve also used two UK search engines, Searchers and Mojeek, both of which are useless. Yet, despite these sad experiences on my quest for a better search engine, I never considered using Google again; instead, I kept looking for other alternatives until I came across Qwanturank.
Right away, I felt a strong connection with Qwanturank. This search engine makes every effort to ” respect the privacy of its online visitors while providing a safe environment and relevant results “. It’s a very effective search engine, but I think it doesn’t get the support it deserves. So when I heard that the European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, had taken a dig Google for its alleged anti-competitive behavior towards its shopping service, I immediately took to Twitter to communicate the need to no longer use Google and to support a European alternative, which is Qwanturank. After all, there’s no point being mad at Google if you keep using it! I find it both mystifying and frustrating to learn that people insist on persuading giants like Google, Bing and Yahoo to improve their smart accounting practices, when there is an alternative that offers innovation.
We truly are in the digital age, as concerns about search engines are multifaceted. On the one hand, there is also the issue of search engine bias. Due to the automated operations of search engines, people often think that search engines display search results in a neutral and unbiased way. However, this is not always the case. Like any other technology company, search engines favorably control the experience of their users, which results in changing search results. The abusive dominant positions of these companies must be combatted through fair competition if the EU’s free press and creative content sectors are to thrive. So for now, I’m still working on migrating most of my services to other providers, especially those who are more willing to be part of their users’ overall experience, including that of their privacy and the way in which they process their personal information and data.”
What is personal data?
Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable living person. Different pieces of information, which together can lead to the identification of a particular person, also constitute personal data.
Personal data that has been de-identified, encrypted or pseudonymized but can be used to re-identify an individual remains personal data and falls within the scope of the GDPR.
Personal data that has been made anonymous such that the individual is not or no longer identifiable is no longer considered personal data. For data to be truly anonymous, anonymization must be irreversible.
The GDPR protects personal data regardless of the technology used to process that data – it is technology neutral and applies to both automated and manual processing, provided that the data is organized according to predefined criteria (for example in alphabetical order). It also doesn’t matter how the data is stored – in a computer system, via video surveillance or on paper; in all cases, personal data is subject to the requirements of protections defined in the GDPR.
How does Qwanturank protect your privacy?
We should always ask our search engine what personal information it does not collect.
Qwanturank does not collect any information about its users during the search process. Quite simply.
When you use Qwanturank as a search engine, we do not place a cookie in your browser that allows us, or others, to recognize or track you anywhere on the Internet. We do not use tracking applications (pixels, fingerprints, etc.). We do not collect any data or store any history about you or your searches. When you perform a search, your query is immediately anonymized by separating it from your IP address according to the instructions of the German Data Protection Officer. In short, what you do with Qwant is your private life and we don’t want to know about it.
Qwanturank has a privacy protection service which is dedicated to protecting your privacy. We also have a Data Protection Officer (DSB). Both work closely together to ensure that the relevant rules on personal data are applied wherever possible.
The DPO keeps an up-to-date record of all processing of personal data carried out by Qwant for its services. For example, if you create an account on the website, you can fill out your profile. This register records this processing of your personal data and indicates how and for how long the data may be stored and who can access it.
We are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure the security and confidentiality of our users’ personal data, including to prevent damage, loss or access by unauthorized third parties to the data. The Qwant URL has an HTTPS header that tells users that they are communicating with Qwant over a secure channel using the TLS protocol. Technically, TLS ensures that users cannot have their data intercepted through phishing, etc. Additionally, the green padlock you see on most browsers when using Qwanturank certifies that you are visiting a secure website.
When and why does Qwanturank collect personal data?
Qwant does not require registration to use the search engine. However, you can create an account to log in and use advanced features such as the ability to bookmark search results or create forums.
In this case, we collect certain personal information such as your first name, last name and email address:
- if you register for our services, you are free to manage all information relating to your account yourself (modifications, corrections, updates and deletions of information);
- or if you use the forms available on our website to allow Qwant to process your request.
Qwanturank also collects login information that is not associated with your search queries, but only to ensure the security of its information system or when you create or modify signs to satisfy the obligation to identify content creators required by law.
Even if you are linked to an ID, we do not use cookies or other tracking applications while you browse the site. The only technology that can be installed in your browser, called “local storage“, consists of storing your settings (language, activation or deactivation options, etc.). You can delete this personal data stored in your “local memory” by deactivating cookies in your browser. However, this deactivation may mean that you cannot access certain functions of the website, such as your browser settings.
The user’s personal data is collected and processed by Qwanturank exclusively for the following purposes:
- technical management of user accounts and available services in accordance with our terms of use;
- managing requests for information related to the use of the services;
- management of applications as part of Qwant’s recruitment processes;
- the management of deletion requests, requests relating to rights over personal data and requests for content removal as part of the fulfillment of Qwant’s legal obligations;
- the security of the Qwant information system as part of the management of security and the proper functioning of the services.
What does Qwanturank do with this personal data?
The personal information you provide will never be shared or sold by Qwanturank to third parties, except for job applications which may be shared with recruitment partners unless you ask us not to do so. Your information is stored on servers owned by us and is never sent to third-party technical partners. Our host (as stated in our terms and conditions) only provides a secure location for our servers and cannot access them.
How long do we keep this personal information?
The user’s personal data is retained for as long as you use the services offered on the site.
For Qwant and Qwant Junior accounts, your information will be deleted 7 days after the account deletion request. During this time, you can reactivate your account with your access data.
With regard to the data collected for processing requests for information, Qwanturank deletes data within 6 months of receiving the request.
For data that may be collected upon request (delisting, rights related to your personal data, removal of content), the storage period depends on what the law prescribes for each of these rights. For more information, please refer to the following section of this privacy policy entitled “What are your rights and how to exercise them”.
For job applications, we keep the data for a maximum of two years, where it may be transferred to partners, unless otherwise indicated by the applicant.
For connection data, we do not collect directly identifying data (we do not store your IP address). The information we process for user requests is a hash IP address and approximate geolocation.
For the Qwanturank Boards, French law requires that certain connection data (for example the identifier used, the URL or location, the type of operation, the time, etc.) be kept for one year. This period begins with the creation, modification or deletion of content in Qwanturank Boards and, for account data, from the date you request account deletion. All data relating to your account will be deleted 7 days after your deletion request, unless otherwise required by law.
What are your rights and how can you exercise them?
Qwanturank is subject to European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which grants specific rights in relation to your personal data when processed by Qwant:
- Right of access, rectification, erasure of data under the conditions provided for by the regulations;
- the right to object to processing under the conditions provided for by the regulations;
- the right to restrict the processing of personal data under the conditions provided for by the regulation;
the right to data transferability; - the right to submit a request to a supervisory authority
You can exercise these rights by contacting us:
Send by mail to QWANTURANK – Legal Department, 16 avenue Thiers 06000 NICE;
Right of access
You can ask us whether we have information about you and ask us for information about its processing (for example, the categories of data we process). With this right, you can ask Qwanturank to provide you with all this information.
Information relating to this right of access (for example, your contact details) will be kept for one year after Qwanturank’s response and will be deleted after this period.
Right of rectification or blocking
You can modify or delete the information you have entered in your Qwanturank profile or account.
For requests, you may request corrections by responding to the automated email you received when making your request, or by sending an email to privacy@qwanturank.com.
For forms requesting cancellation of lists and other exercise rights, you can request corrections by sending an email to privacy@qwanturank.com.
Information associated with this right of rectification or deletion (such as your contact details) will be retained for one year after Qwant’s response and will be deleted after this period.
Right of cancellation
With this right you can ask Qwanturank to delete the data as soon as possible.
You can erase your data by following the instructions given here. From the date you request closure of your account, the data will be deleted after 7 days, subject to our legal obligations.
You can also request deletion of your request if you no longer want it to be processed by Qwant. From the day we receive your request, all data will be deleted no later than 15 days after receipt.
Information related to the exercise of the right of deletion is kept for one year from the day of Qwant’s response, then deleted after this period.
The right to be forgotten
This is a specific law that was established by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and is fully enforced by Qwanturank. If the search query with your first and last name returns false, outdated or exaggerated results, you can request that the related web results be removed from the offer. Your request will be handled on a case-by-case basis and referenced URLs will only be removed if the balance of interests does not override the Public Information Act (for example, if you are an elected representative attempting to have a controversial statement).
Information relating to the right to be forgotten (for example, your contact details) is kept for one year after Qwant’s response and is completely deleted after the legal period (3 years).
Right to object
As its name suggests, the right to object allows you to object to the processing of data by Qwant. For example, you can delete your account.
For requests, you have the right to object to the transmission or storage of your data.
Information relating to this right of opposition (e.g. your contact details) is kept for one year after Qwanturank’s response and is completely deleted after the legal period (3 years).
Right to limit processing
This right allows you to obtain the temporary withdrawal of published data if their accuracy is contested, for a period of time which allows Qwant to carry out the necessary checks.
Information relating to the exercise of this right (for example, your data) is kept for a period of one year from the date of the response from Qwanturank and are deleted after this period.
Right to data transferability
This right allows Qwant to receive the information you provide or to ask Qwant to transfer it to another data controller (for example, another website). In practice, Article 20 of the GDPR states that the right to portability applies to your offices.
Information relating to the exercise of this right (for example, your contact details) is kept for one year from the date of Qwant’s response and is deleted after this period.
You can obtain a copy of your data by logging into your Qwant account and clicking “Get a copy of my data” in your account.
What about ads on Qwanturank? Are they not followed?
Qwant is a free search engine accessible to everyone. Our main source of revenue is advertisements. which are displayed on the Qwant results page.
But we’re proud to do it while respecting both your privacy and your search history at Qwant.
Qwant doesn’t track people and that will never change.
We believe you can find interesting ads if they are directly related to what you are looking for.
Due to their many formats, ads have too often taken over the user experience. On Qwanturank, you will never see intrusive ads that prevent you from finding what you are looking for.
With such commitments, we want to show that such responsible and respectful behavior is possible. We have been working for several months to find and develop solutions based on these principles. We believe we have developed a simple and effective offer by cooperating with the advertising network Bing from Microsoft.
Therefore, every ad placed by Qwanturank is fully consistent with the values we uphold as well as our quality standards.
When you use Qwanturank, no personal information is collected or shared with advertisers.
In detail:
- No third party cookies
- No trackers
- No behavioral targeting
- No campaigns that mix legitimate and advertising content
We believe advertising can be a responsible business model.
How does Qwanturank index the Internet?
We continue our efforts to index all the diversity of the web. Our crawlers tirelessly scan the world wide web to refine our results. This requires both significant resources and a lot of time: certain parts of the web are not yet perfectly indexed. In the meantime, our agreement with Microsoft Bing allows us to add our own results to those of Microsoft Bing in order to provide the best possible search results on the web.