Search.Inc: An Ethical Search Engine for the People

At Search.inc, we believe that Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and search should serve people (the individual) first and allow for fair competition for businesses. We don’t care about your politics, your race, gender or whatever. Everyone is equal and everyone should get equal access to the web. Our mission is to provide the most accurate, transparent, neutral, and privacy-first search engine that puts users in control. Unlike other platforms that prioritize their own profits above all else through ad revenue and selling your data to whomever they can get a dollar from, or selectively down-rank content based on subjective criteria, we are committed to fairness, accuracy, and freedom of information without compromise. A big part of our internal incentivization program is based on delivering and maintaining these principles either through introducing new ways to achieve or strengthen existing protocols or by introducing new ways to bolster these principles and concepts in the manner and spirit they were meant to be practiced.  As a company we will look to laugh when we can, and we will be serious when we must.  We’re proudly Canadian owned and Canadian built and our ethics policy reflects this. 

Compassionate Capitalism (You heard us!) 

The search industry has been dominated by corporation(s) that see users as products and search results as revenue streams. Search.Inc is different. We are here to create an ethical, egalitarian search engine that serves people, not profits. This is so important to us that we want you, the subscriber, user and loyal customer to share in our revenue. As we grow our market share and increase our revenue so you too can share in that. No stocks, no capital raising you’ll never have access to or hear about. More information on this will come when the timing is right. Stay tuned.

What happens if the founding dudes leave the business for whatever reason? 

We’re not going to be around forever. If anyone tries to change these principles or mess around with the spirit in which they were intended to be implemented and practiced we can only hope you, the user, slap those people in whatever manner is most effective. We’ll do our best to incorporate future proof checks and balances for anyone who wants to mess around with the ethics on which we founded this company. Any future changes or amendments that change this particular Ethics Policy that do not align with the spirit in which it is intended should raise alarm bells (for example!). And consider this, any company that doesn’t follow suit in saying and doing the same thing in writing and action you might wish to consider suspect. #justsayin #search.inc

Privacy is Non-Negotiable

For subscribers, who you are as an individual, will be completely anonymous when you use our service. That’s why we can’t sell your data or give it to anyone who requests it. Your data belongs to you, and you control it. Search.inc does not track, store, or sell user data unless you tell us we can. You have full control over what minimal information is collected.  You have “the right to be forgotten”. 

True Search Neutrality and bias mitigation

• The results you get are based on our proprietary and bespoke AI Intent algorithms that look to only unpack your intent. 
• Search results should reflect quality and relevance, not financial incentives or corporate influence. 
• No one can pay to influence search rankings.
• We do not manipulate results for political or commercial gain.
• Users can customize their search preferences without being nudged toward a single viewpoint.
• Ads and ad revenue will make up part of our product but this will not have any connection or influence or integration with the search engine  or the results returned.  
• We ensure a diversity of sources while prioritizing reliability, letting users make informed decisions rather than being force-fed a single narrative.

Transparency in Algorithms

• Search engines shouldn’t be black boxes. Search.inc provides clear, public-facing explanations of how our ranking system works. Users can even fine-tune how results are presented, ensuring that AI-driven recommendations serve their needs, not corporate interests. More information to come. 

Empowering Users, Not Controlling Them

We believe in customization without compromise. With Search.Inc, you can:

• Use returned results functions to see the web the way you want without hidden censorship.
• If your left, right, up, down or in the 4th dimension, if you provide your search history, we can provide you with more accurate unbiased information whatever your predilections might be. If you choose to not permit us to use your data, you will still get a very accurate result for most queries. You can see the impact on your Search.Inc accuracy score™ in your Control Centre.  
• Our accessibility standards are world class. We believe everyone should have access and be able to use our product, our technology reflects this. 

Individuals, Families and Children. 

This is important. Other Search Companies will analyse, sell and use you and your children’s data and information in order to increase profits and build new ways to grow revenue off the back of that information. They will also do this for psychological, political and societal manipulation.  They’ve even been caught recording children and license plates without consent. To be fair pretty much all their data collection and usage of that data is not very ethical in our opinion. This is why giving you control of any data being connected to you, your family or those you care about, old and young is the best way we could think of to help stop the sheer insanity of sharing everything about yourself to anyone who wants to buy that information.

A Stand Against Misinformation Without Corporate Overreach

Unlike some competitors, we do not arbitrarily suppress information or selectively down-rank content based on politics or corporate interests. Instead, we provide clear, user-visible labels on sources, allowing you to judge credibility. Our focus is on fact-based ranking, not editorial manipulation. There are some things that you kinda have to censor right? It ain’t easy, but we will give it our best effort. We have no doubt that this will change as new ways of being dodgy to the point of being unacceptable are employed. All we can say is we will do our best in the spirit of what we stand for.  

Your Responsibilities as a User 

Is to actually, don’t be evil. Users have a responsibility too. There are somethings that are just wrong. That being said, where is the line? Who draws the line and why? How far is too far and what content is too dangerous or unethical to the point of where action needs to be taken? Given the anonymous nature of our offering those of a nefarious nature may think that our platform might be suitable for them to find content or conduct unethical practices via our engine. We have implemented several redundant checks and balances, the first of its kind that we feel is fair and equitable and yet keeps individuals and society safe from those that might try and take advantage of our product.  Whether you’re a free or paid subscriber, we feel we’ve struck a sensible balance. Our Code of Conduct will be available soon. 

Ethical Global AI and Data Governance Policy 

Search.Inc is committed to the responsible and ethical development, deployment, and governance of AI within our search engine platform. Our AI-driven search engine adheres to strict principles that prioritize user privacy, transparency, fairness, and accountability. Any data you permit and share with us will only be used for the purpose of helping your search experience be more efficient and more accurate. This means we will not use it to build other algorithms or develop new products with your information. Our Data and AI Risk Governance framework will be posted soon. 

Sustainability

Listen, can a pool be polluted? Can a lake? Can an Ocean? Can the planet hold an infinite amount of pollutants? Then we agree that the earth cannot handle an infinite amount of pollutants (if you think it can we’ll agree to disagree) The rest is just math. Complex and very serious math.  And let’s be 100% clear, individuals separating their plastics for recycling is important but it’s only one aspect to help a big problem. It’s companies and governments that are the biggest contributors to this problem. Because of that we build and do everything as efficiently as possible.  We want to do our part. We’re committed to being carbon neutral within 2 years of launch.

We Won’t Always Get It Right

We won’t, but if we get something wrong, we’ll own up to it and we’ll do our best to fix it. We won’t get into the existential definitions of “Right” and “Wrong” but common sense and our guiding principles are the guide rails to how we will approach everything. 

What We Will Never Do

At Search.Inc, we actively reject:

• The sale of user data.  We don’t track you, so there’s nothing to sell.
• Opaque censorship rules and guidelines that do not provide clear definitions of what is or is not censored.
• Military or surveillance AI partnerships. Our technology is developed for public good, not war or mass monitoring.
• Facial recognition: This is creepy. 
• Listening and recording you and your children through any and every device possible to collect data without your consent. Yes, they did it and got caught click here to find out more. This is waaaay creepier.  (How is that even allowed! Bunch a weirdos) 
• Ad-driven ranking manipulation results are determined by relevance and user preferences, not money.