# AWS Bedrock Web Search adds domain filtering and location controls

> AWS announced domain filters and optional location context for Bedrock Web Search, configured through the web_search tool in OpenAI Responses API requests.

Canonical URL: https://www.devobs.io/news/news-event-070d51545a6d09e50ef15d13/
By: Arjun Shah
Published: 2026-10-24T08:32:42.204Z
Updated: 2026-10-24T08:32:42.204Z
Event date: 2026-10-23
Section: AI

AWS announced domain filtering and optional user location controls for Web Search on AWS Bedrock on October 23, 2026. According to the [AWS announcement](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/10/bedrock-web-search-domain-user-location/), both settings are configured on the `web_search` tool in an existing OpenAI Responses API request.

## Domain filters narrow the source pool

The tool’s `filters` parameter accepts up to 100 `allowed_domains` to restrict search results to selected domains, or up to 100 `blocked_domains` to exclude unwanted sources, [AWS says](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/10/bedrock-web-search-domain-user-location/).

For engineering teams, an allowlist offers a way to focus search results on selected documentation or reference sites. A blocklist leaves the source selection broader while excluding particular domains. Treat either approach as a source-selection decision, not a substitute for evaluating the resulting answer.

A practical evaluation would compare filtered and unfiltered answers for citation relevance and coverage. Check both whether answers cite the intended sites and whether the source restrictions leave important parts of a question unanswered.

## Location targets geographic relevance

AWS says developers can optionally supply location parameters so Web Search can return results relevant to that geography. The [announcement](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/10/bedrock-web-search-domain-user-location/) identifies regional availability and local services as example use cases, but does not provide a parameter schema or request example.

Use location context to guide relevance rather than to establish customer eligibility. For a location-dependent answer, check whether the cited page addresses the intended geography and whether its availability conditions are current.

## Availability: four AWS Regions at announcement

The release notice lists both controls as available wherever Bedrock Web Search was supported at announcement:

- US East (N. Virginia)
- US East (Ohio)
- US West (Oregon)
- AWS GovCloud (US-West)

That is the [announced regional scope](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/10/bedrock-web-search-domain-user-location/), not availability across every AWS Region.

## Source references

- <https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/whats-new/2026/10/bedrock-web-search-domain-user-location/>