Search engines to shield netizens from cyber sins

WASHINGTON: Seek and ye shall find. A number of new internet search engines created by Christian, Jewish or Muslim entities aim to filter out queries from web users in a way that is more relevant to those users and keeps them from temptation, alcohol and pornography.

“We think that the other search engines are way too ‘main street’ oriented. We wanted to provide a solution to explore the web in a safe environment, where you won’t bump into explicit content or immoral websites, like pornography,” said Reza Sardeha, the Amsterdam-based founder of the Muslim-oriented search engine I’mHalal.

If one types the world alcohol into imhalal.com, the search engine produces results that explain the Muslim viewpoint on drinking. Type in “pornography,” and the search engine produces... nothing. The 21-year-old Kuwaiti says the site attracts users from places like Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UAE as well as the US.

For Christians, SeekFind offers “a research tool for people who are looking for biblical and theological content from an evangelical Christian prospective,” says founder Shea Houdmann.

For the Jewish community, the niche is filled by another engine called Jewogle, which bears a passing resemblance to Google. Danny Sullivan, editor-in-chief of SearchEngineLand.com, said none of these website has “taken off and caught fire” but that “it doesn’t mean to say that they can’t be good, profitable businesses.”