## Ecosia Offers Novel Approach to Chrome Antitrust Remedy
Following a recent U.S. court ruling finding Google holds an illegal monopoly in search and advertising, Berlin-based search engine Ecosia has proposed a surprising alternative to forced divestiture of Google’s Chrome browser. CEO Christian Kroll’s proposal, presented as a potential remedy for Judge Amit Mehta to consider, suggests Ecosia would manage Chrome for a decade, potentially averting a sale to another company. Several competitors, including OpenAI and Perplexity, are reportedly interested in acquiring the browser.
## A Decade of Chrome Management and Climate Funding
Ecosia estimates Chrome will generate $1 trillion in revenue over the next ten years and believes an auction could price the browser in the “hundreds of billions.” The company’s proposal outlines a structure where Ecosia would manage Chrome and dedicate approximately $400 billion of the revenue to climate projects, aligning with its existing mission of donating to initiatives globally. Google would retain intellectual property ownership and continue to be the default search engine, receiving 40% of the revenue, or $400 billion. Ecosia’s existing experience with the Chromium open-source engine, which powers Chrome, provides them familiarity with the platform.
## Standing Out from Traditional Remedies
The proposal distinguishes itself by offering a path that avoids a sale to a competitor and prioritizes environmental investment. It’s an unconventional solution given the current legal landscape, where divestiture is the standard remedy for antitrust violations. Kroll stated the proposal builds on Ecosia’s track record of achieving ambitious goals.
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