Ecosia Launches Linux Browser to Bolster European Digital Sovereignty
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The Berlin-based search engine is targeting a growing community of privacy-conscious users seeking alternatives to American tech monopolies.
Berlin-based search company Ecosia has released a Linux version of its Chromium-based web browser, according to reporting from The Register. The move is part of a broader effort to support European digital sovereignty and provide an alternative to the dominance of U.S. tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
Ecosia CEO and founder Christian Kroll stated the browser is intended for users who want a tool that is privacy- and climate-friendly and free from "tech-bro monopolies." The company is specifically targeting developers and tech circles who are increasingly skeptical of commercial tech giants.
According to The Register, Ecosia's decision comes as Linux desktop market share in the EU grew from 2.5% to 5.7% between 2024 and 2025. While Statcounter data indicates Linux's current share of the European desktop and console market is 6.4%, Windows' share has declined from 80.2% to 74.2% in that same window (and further to 68.62% per Statcounter).
Ecosia is positioning this release alongside other efforts to reduce reliance on American infrastructure. The company previously partnered with French search firm Qwant to launch the European Search Perspective (EUSP), an EU-based web index. Ecosia also cited a recent European Commission mandate requiring Google to share anonymized search data with eligible rivals as a key factor in the push for sovereign technology.
The Linux browser is currently available via the Snap store and the Ubuntu App Center. While based on Chromium, The Register noted that Ecosia's browsers are not open source, and the company has not yet clarified if the Linux version differs in this regard.