BitTorrent already uses a distributed hash table for tracking. A search index can be built on a DHT by using normalized search terms as keys, as with e.g. http:

BitTorrent already uses a distributed hash table for tracking. A search index can be built on a DHT by using normalized search terms as keys, as with e.g. http://www.faroo.com http://www.faroo.com This effectively results in individuals being responsible for specific words in the index. I would assume that this becomes a weakness if particular search terms are staggeringly popular or carry liability, though I'm no expert and there may be solutions to this using redundancy and flux in the allocation.