Google Launches Neutral Chromium Development Fund

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Julie Blankenship

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  • News Last Updated January 10, 2024

Google and The Linux Foundation have announced a new initiative called “Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers.” This program aims to create a neutral platform for funding and enhancing open development projects within the Chromium ecosystem. It is designed to create a sustainable environment for contributions and provide financial support to developers working on the project.

Launched in 2008 along with Google Chrome, Chromium is the open-source base for browsers like Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave. Although it is open source, Google has been the largest contributor, accounting for more than 94% of the over 100,000 commits in 2024. Moreover, Google is also financially responsible for the servers and tests that ensure the daily functioning of the project, which is hundreds of millions in annual maintenance costs.

Regulatory and Industry Pressures

The move is made at a time when regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, have been scrutinizing Google, demanding it to divest its Chrome browser for antitrust reasons. Google responded by suggesting that it would remove exclusive agreements that make it the default search engine. The Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative is a promise to keep the Chromium project going even if Google’s participation decreases.

Industry Leadership Supports

Major technology companies, including Meta, Microsoft, and Opera, have expressed their support for the initiative. Microsoft underlined its commitment to open governance and the urgency of responding to community-driven needs. Opera shared that it is excited to collaborate and even push further for users regarding growth and innovation. 

Function of The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation will administer the fund in a transparent manner, inclusively, and based on community development. A Technical Advisory Committee will oversee the direction of resource distribution to ensure alignment with the larger needs of the Chromium community. This governance structure will reduce obstacles to innovation while ensuring the most efficient development of projects within the ecosystem.

This reflects an industry trend toward supporting critical open-source infrastructure by sharing responsibility for maintaining Chromium. Collaboration ensures that the project is sustainable and resilient, fostering diversity in contributions toward improving the web platform.