The cost of building a “general” search engine for the “whole” web is astronomically high, in the 10s to 100s billions. It’s not achievable, Google were only able to do it by growing as a business at the same time as the internet itself. I don’t believe it’s possible to compete with Google (or Bing) by starting at zero.
The route forward, and what should be advocated for, is a distributed network of search engines, each for a specific vertical. If it operated as a cooperative they could share expertise and technology, they could then build a “meta” search engine for the co-op that combined all the results from the specialist niches. Each member basically “owning” the “franchise” for a specific type of search or category.
So, I don’t believe a single non-profit is the answer. More a co-op type arrangement where the co-op organisation (which may be a non-profit) has a mission to advance internet search through it’s network and strategic investment.
The route forward, and what should be advocated for, is a distributed network of search engines, each for a specific vertical. If it operated as a cooperative they could share expertise and technology, they could then build a “meta” search engine for the co-op that combined all the results from the specialist niches. Each member basically “owning” the “franchise” for a specific type of search or category.
So, I don’t believe a single non-profit is the answer. More a co-op type arrangement where the co-op organisation (which may be a non-profit) has a mission to advance internet search through it’s network and strategic investment.