Important to note that Qwant still uses the Bing search index everywhere except for France and Germany, where they use the Staan search index, which is being developed together with Ecosia.

I’m sure the more people use it, the faster they can expand, though.

Using it from Finland myself, quite satisfied with it even with this Bing nonsense. Only have to use Google for VERY RARE cases.

Just check their Wikipedia page.

Startpage is owned and operated by Surfboard Holding BV, which is majority owned by System1, an American internet advertising company.

non-US search engine (start page)

Startpage is owned by an American advertising company.

Try Qwant or Ecosia. They’re working together to develop an independent search index (Staan) and it’s already in use in France and Germany.