How we verify EU data sovereignty
The EU Score is a 0–3 scale that tells you how confidently we can say a product is European — and where its data actually lives.
We haven't been able to verify the product's EU status yet. It may still be European — it's pending enrichment or the information isn't publicly available.
The product mentions EU presence, GDPR compliance, or European origins — but we haven't independently verified the HQ location.
How to upgrade: The vendor adds their HQ country in their listing. Staff verifies it.
The company is headquartered in an EU member state, verified via EU VAT registration through the official VIES registry (European Commission). Data may still be processed outside the EU.
How to upgrade: The vendor adds their EU VAT number. Squidir verifies it automatically via the VIES API. No manual step needed.
HQ in the EU (VAT verified) and servers/infrastructure confirmed to be in EU data centers. The Squidir team has audited the server declaration. This is the highest level of EU data sovereignty we certify.
How to upgrade: The vendor declares their EU server infrastructure in their listing. A Squidir staff member audits and manually upgrades the score.
How the ranking score works
EU Score is only one of five factors behind a product's ranking score (0–100), the number that determines its position in search results and category listings.
EU Score
Verified HQ and server location (0–3 scale above), scaled to the weight.
Reviews
Blend of average rating (60%) and review count relative to the most-reviewed product (40%). Zero with no published reviews.
VAT verified
Full points if the EU VAT number is verified via VIES, zero otherwise.
Listing completeness
Share of profile sections filled in — basic info, EU verification, pricing & API, technical capabilities, company info, competitors, and screenshots. Optional feature flags (API access, SSO, open source…) earn partial credit, so a product isn't penalized for lacking a feature it genuinely doesn't have.
Freshness
Newer listings score higher, relative to the oldest published product in the directory.
Recalculated daily. A product can be EU Verified (3/3) and VAT verified and still not reach 100 — those two factors cap out at 50 of the 100 points; the rest depends on reviews, listing completeness, and freshness.
Frequently asked questions
Does EU Score affect ranking?
Yes. EU Score is the largest single factor in the ranking algorithm, weighted at 35%. A product with a higher EU Score will generally rank higher than one with a lower score — all else being equal. This is intentional: EU data sovereignty is the core value of the directory.
Can a vendor fake their EU Score?
No. Scores 1 and 2 require external verification (staff review and VIES API respectively). Score 3 requires staff audit of server infrastructure. Vendors provide data; Squidir verifies. The vendor can never change their own score.
What about UK-based companies post-Brexit?
UK companies are not EU member states and cannot receive an EU-based score (2/3) via VIES. They can receive EU Mentions (1/3) if they have EU infrastructure or GDPR compliance. We may add a separate "UK Based" indicator in the future.
What about GDPR compliance?
The EU Score measures location, not compliance. A product can be EU-based and still have poor GDPR practices, or US-based with strong EU data processing agreements. EU Score is one signal — not the whole picture. Always review a vendor's DPA before processing personal data.
Is your product EU Based or Verified?
Claim your listing and start the verification process. It's free.