Ecosia Proposes 10-Year Stewardship of Google Chrome for Climate Projects

Berlin-based nonprofit search engine Ecosia, led by CEO Christian Kroll, has put forth an unexpected proposal to assume stewardship of Google’s Chrome browser for a decade. This proposal was recently submitted to both Google and U.S. Judge Amit Mehta, who is set to rule this month on remedies for Google’s alleged illegal monopoly in internet search and advertising, as per a 2024 landmark decision.

The suggestion, while seemingly unconventional, carries an element of strategic ingenuity. Under the proposal, Ecosia would manage Chrome without requiring Google to sell it to a competitor, as suggested by remedies proposed by the Department of Justice. So far, Google has not agreed to such a move (with plans to appeal the original ruling in 2024). However, several competitors have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, with OpenAI and Perplexity both expressing their intent. Last week, Perplexity even made an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer, which was met with criticism for being potentially undervalued, especially considering the billions more that Perplexity has raised to date.

According to Kroll, Chrome is projected to generate upwards of $1 trillion over the next decade, and an auction could price it in the hundreds of billions. This makes Ecosia’s proposal for no-cost acquisition—which includes control of around 60% of the revenue generated by users—seem somewhat implausible at first glance.

However, Ecosia plans to use these billions towards climate projects, aligning with its mission as a nonprofit organization. Founded in 2009, Ecosia donates millions each month and has partnerships with local communities and NGOs in over 35 countries. The Chrome proposal outlines specific projects, including the preservation of rainforests, global tree-planting and agroforestry, the prosecution of polluters, and investments in green AI technology.

The remaining 40% ($400 billion, based on the $1 trillion estimate) would be paid to Google, ensuring intellectual property ownership for Google and allowing them to continue as the default search engine. After a decade, stewardship could be passed to another entity or reassessed.

Ecosia, which currently uses Google to power its search engine, already has a revenue-share partnership with the tech giant. Furthermore, Ecosia offers its own browser built on the Chromium open source engine that powers Chrome. This, according to Kroll, makes the stewardship idea less far-fetched. “We would be happy to manage Chrome for them,” he states, adding that Ecosia is even prepared to maintain employment for the Chrome staff.

Despite this, Kroll acknowledges that the primary goal is to present Judge Mehta with alternative divestiture options beyond traditional methods like selling or spinning off. These methods would merely perpetuate Chrome’s power and billions within the tech industry.

“We have a history of making impossible things possible,” Kroll remarks. “Perhaps this proposal will inspire some thought-provoking considerations.”

Your feedback on our coverage and events can help us evolve. Please take a moment to fill out this survey for a chance to win a prize.