Google, Microsoft, and others team up for Chromium browser alliance under Linux Foundation

Jan 11, 2025

A new Chromium alliance formed by Google, Microsoft, and others under Linux Foundation.

Google, Microsoft, and others team up for Chromium browser alliance under Linux Foundation

: The Linux Foundation has announced a new group, 'Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers', with founding members including Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera. This alliance is designed to enhance collaboration in the Chromium ecosystem without taking control of existing projects. Google remains a major contributor, while members like Opera and Microsoft reaffirm their commitment. However, the impact on non-Chromium browsers like Firefox and Safari remains uncertain.

The Linux Foundation has announced the formation of 'Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers' to fund and advance the development of browsers based on the Chromium codebase. Founding members include Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera, and the collaboration aims to provide a neutral space for developers and the open-source community to innovate further without absorbing existing projects.

Google highlighted its significant contributions, having made over 100,000 commits to Chromium in 2024, and urged partners to increase their involvement. Google asserts its commitment to continued development and believes that the Linux Foundation's open governance makes it the right choice to manage the alliance, as noted by the enthusiasm shown by Microsoft and Opera.

Popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera, built on Chromium, will likely benefit from this alliance. However, the implications for non-Chromium browsers such as Firefox and Safari are unclear, with potential challenges looming for Firefox given its reliance on Google for funding amidst an increasing market share of Chromium-based browsers.