eTools: Privacy and a New Swiss Search Service
June 4, 2026
Another dinobaby post. No AI unless it is an image. This dinobaby is not Grandma Moses, just Grandpa Arnold.
In one of my feeds, I spotted a link to a service more than 15 years old as I recall. I think the operator is Comcepta. The firm’s Web site explains enterprise metasearch.
There is a mobile, consumer facing version of the system. eTools.ch pops up an interesting message:
I know this is difficult to read. Here’s the text:
On this website we use cookies and similar functions to process end device information and personal data (e.g. such as IP-addresses or browser information). The processing is used for purposes such as to integrate content, external services and elements from third parties, statistical analysis/measurement, personalized advertising and the integration of social media. Depending on the function, data is passed on to up to 304 third parties and processed by them. This consent is voluntary, not required for the use of our website and can be revoked at any time using the icon on the bottom left.
I captured the names of the third party outfits this Swiss outfit works with. A person using this system on a mobile device will have some information shared with lots of companies. Here’s a snip from the master list of 304. I pulled the vendors from “G” to “L.” How many do you recognize? Also, in the screenshot of the cookie control panel, please, notice there is no option to disable “all” of these third party services.
GeoEdge GfK GmbH Glomex GmbH Google Ads Google Advertising Products Google Analytics Google General Google Recaptcha Grabit Interactive Media Inc. dba KERV Interactive GumGum Australia, Inc. GumGum, Inc. Happydemics Hearts and Science München GmbH Human Hybrid Adtech GmbH ID5 Technology Ltd. Impactify SARL Improve Digital Index Exchange Inc. INFOnline GmbH Innovid LLC InMobi Technology Services Pte. Ltd. Inskin Media LTD Intercept Interactive Inc. dba Undertone Invibes Group IPONWEB GmbH jsdelivr.com Kairos Fire Knorex Krush Media LLC Kupona GmbH Kwanko LIFT DSP LIMITED LinkedIn LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company LiveIntent Inc. LiveRamp LoopMe Limited
I did not run any queries on the mobile service because I did not have one of my special devices with me. I am not sure how much storage these thrid party services consume. I am not sure I want to be “tracked.”
My recollection is that this eTools.ch service sends a user’s queries to open source indexes and some commercial services. Different deals are offered to gain access to a Web index outfit’s content. The results are retrieved and displayed to the user. The method is called “metasearch.” A similar service (originally developed by a finance type in New York City) is StartPage.com. (I am not sure who owns this service now.) Comcepta does provide some information about how its system works. I looked at the block diagram. The approach uses the same XML configuration file approach that Vivisimo did when it was in the search business.
The eTools.ch service emphasizes that it is “transparent.” I want to point out that the system has been around for more than a decade. What’s interesting is that Switzerland is one of the countries that harbors a number of private and privacy centric services. Banks come to mind as well as Proton’s services.
I want to point out that “privacy” in Switzerland does not pay much attention to what third party vendors do with information. The idea is that the vendor allegedly does not performl server-side profiling of users and doesn’t monetize query logs. What these third-party vendors do is not a problem for the regulators or the vendor.
The reason I posted this is to answer the question, “Where can I get a current list of third party vendors who might enter into a deal to help a Web site or service operator to generate some revenue?”
Here’s your answer: eTool.ch.
PS. I did not see “artificial intelligence” or “smart software” mentioned when I checked out the Web site.
Stephen E Arnold, June 4, 2026
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