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The text in the Manifest V3 controversy is fine, but the intro text is too loaded for a basic introduction to the Chromium article - added tonewarning
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{{ProductCargo
|ArticleType=Product
|Category=
|Company=Google
|Description=Web Browser
|InProduction=Yes
|Logo=Chromium Browser.svg
|ProductLine=
|ReleaseYear=2-Sep-2008
|Website=https://chromium.org/
}}
'''Chromium''' is a [[wikipedia:Free_and_open-source_software|free and open-source]] [[:Category:Web browsers|web browser]] developed by and primarily maintained by [[Google]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date= |title=Chromium |url=https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812185547/https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=The Chromium Projects}}</ref> Several major web browsers use Chromium as the base of their software, including [[Google Chrome]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Microsoft Edge]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019 |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507175316/https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |archive-date=2019-05-07 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Opera]]/[[Opera GX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-27 |title=Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16 |url=https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805174212/https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |archive-date=2014-08-05 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.opera.com}}</ref> [[Brave browser|Brave]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Brave - Homepage |url=https://brave.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814095854/https://brave.com/ |archive-date=2025-08-14 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=brave.com}}</ref> and others.


Google's update to the browser-extension engine - Manifest - is falsely advertised to the consumers of Chromium as being more secure, private, and performant while in reality it restricts privacy and performance focused browser-extensions' access to the necessary features they need to operate properly. This actually makes the platform less of all of those things - Google benefits by causing ad-blocking browser-extensions to malfunction, earning them more revenue.
==Controversies==


==Background==
===Manifest V3===
'''Chromium''' is a [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source]] [[:Category:Web browsers|web browser]] developed by and primarily maintained by [[Google]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Google |date= |title=Chromium |url=https://www.chromium.org/Home/ |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref> Its code-base serves as the foundation for several major web browsers, including [[Google Chrome]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Microsoft Edge]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019 |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/06/10-cool-things-to-check-out-at-microsoft-build-2019/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Opera]]/[[Opera GX]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-27 |title=Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16 |url=https://blogs.opera.com/news/2013/08/today-opera-15-has-been-updated-to-opera-16/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=blogs.opera.com}}</ref> [[Brave browser|Brave]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-14 |title=Brave - Homepage |url=https://brave.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=brave.com}}</ref> and others.   
Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by browser extensions across the majority of the browser market, presented as an upgrade in security, privacy, and performance of these extensions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |date=2023-11-16 |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116172126/https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3/ |archive-date=2023-11-16 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Chrome for developers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Sep 2024 |title=Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919195700/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |archive-date=2024-09-19 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> The changes restrict the access browser extensions can have, thereby enhancing security by preventing them from loading remote resources immediately or significantly altering rendered content. These limitations effectively render the browser market's most effective ad-blockers ineffective.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |date=17 Nov 2023 |title=Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117102941/https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |archive-date=2023-11-17 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> Despite the developers' efforts to bypass the issue using workarounds and updated versions of Manifest V3, the software's previous efficiency has not been fully restored. For example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buria |first=Taras |date=3 Aug 2024 |title=uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803151224/https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |archive-date=2024-08-03 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Neowin}}</ref> This manifest change is supported by leading Chromium-based browsers, making it challenging for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking capabilities without committing to retaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox, which also utilizes Chromium-sourced manifests) or implementing their own ad-blocking solutions of varying<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Edward |date=13 Mar 2024 |title=Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update) |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314101752/https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |archive-date=2024-03-14 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Mozilla]]}}</ref>) or utilizing their own ad-blocking solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jun 2024 |title=What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser |url=https://brave.com/blog/brave-shields-manifest-v3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805200916/https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |archive-date=2024-08-05 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Brave]]}}</ref> of varied effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Jun 2024 |title=Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality |url=https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618234127/https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |archive-date=2024-06-18 |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Vivaldi]]}}</ref><!-- Citations support controversies of Google, Google Chrome, and other third-party companies/products. I suggest this be a part of those articles, and not Chromium.  -->


==Licensing==
==Licensing==
Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license <ref>{{Cite web |last=Google |title=LICENSE |url=https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/LICENSE |access-date=2025-08-12}}</ref>
Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LICENSE |url=https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/LICENSE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601160232/https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/%2B/master/LICENSE |archive-date=2025-06-01 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Google Git}}</ref>
 
==Controversies==
 
===Manifest V3===
Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by extensions across most of the browser market, presented as an upgrade to security, privacy and performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=David |title=Resuming the transition to Manifest V3 |url=https://developer.chrome.com/blog/resuming-the-transition-to-mv3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Chrome for developers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Sep 2024 |title=Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3 |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/extensions-chromium/developer-guide/manifest-v3 |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Manifest V3's changes restrict the access extensions can have, presenting a security benefit by not allowing them to load remote resources on the fly or alter rendered content as deeply, by doing so the effectiveness of the browser market's most effective ad-blockers is diminished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Aamir |date=17 Nov 2023 |title=Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-manifest-v3-changes-3386506/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> Workarounds and updated versions have been made but are less effective since, for example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buria |first=Taras |date=3 Aug 2024 |title=uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/ublock-origin-developer-recommends-switching-to-ublock-lite-as-chrome-flags-the-extension/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=Neowin}}</ref> This manifest change is backed by leading Chromium browsers, making it difficult for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking abilities without committing to sustaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox which also uses chromium-sourced manifests<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Edward |date=13 Mar 2024 |title=Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update) |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Mozilla]]}}</ref>) or sustaining their own ad-blocking solutions<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jun 2024 |title=What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser |url=https://brave.com/blog/brave-shields-manifest-v3/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Brave]]}}</ref> of varied effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Jun 2024 |title=Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality |url=https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Mar 2025 |website=[[Vivaldi]]}}</ref><!-- Citations support controversies of Google, Google Chrome, and other third-party companies/products. I suggest this be a part of those articles, and not Chromium.  -->


=References=  
=References=  
<references />
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 08:00, 9 February 2026

Chromium
Basic Information
Release Year 2-Sep-2008
Product Type
In Production Yes
Official Website https://chromium.org/

Chromium is a free and open-source web browser developed by and primarily maintained by Google.[1] Several major web browsers use Chromium as the base of their software, including Google Chrome,[1] Microsoft Edge,[2] Opera/Opera GX,[3] Brave,[4] and others.

Controversies

[edit | edit source]

Manifest V3

[edit | edit source]

Manifest V3 is an update to the manifest structure used by browser extensions across the majority of the browser market, presented as an upgrade in security, privacy, and performance of these extensions.[5][6] The changes restrict the access browser extensions can have, thereby enhancing security by preventing them from loading remote resources immediately or significantly altering rendered content. These limitations effectively render the browser market's most effective ad-blockers ineffective.[7] Despite the developers' efforts to bypass the issue using workarounds and updated versions of Manifest V3, the software's previous efficiency has not been fully restored. For example, blocked domains cannot be updated as conveniently.[8] This manifest change is supported by leading Chromium-based browsers, making it challenging for other browsers to match previous ad-blocking capabilities without committing to retaining Manifest V2 (such as Firefox, which also utilizes Chromium-sourced manifests) or implementing their own ad-blocking solutions of varying[9]) or utilizing their own ad-blocking solutions[10] of varied effectiveness.[11]

Licensing

[edit | edit source]

Chromium's code is published under the 3-clause BSD license.[12]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Chromium". The Chromium Projects. Archived from the original on 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  2. ↑ "10 cool things to check out at Microsoft Build 2019". blogs.microsoft.com. 2019-05-06. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  3. ↑ "Today, Opera 15 has been updated to Opera 16". blogs.opera.com. 2013-08-27. Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Brave - Homepage". brave.com. 2025-08-14. Archived from the original on 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  5. ↑ Li, David (2023-11-16). "Resuming the transition to Manifest V3". Chrome for developers. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  6. ↑ "Overview and timelines for migrating to Manifest V3". Microsoft. 12 Sep 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  7. ↑ Siddiqui, Aamir (17 Nov 2023). "Google's Manifest V3 changes will soon disable uBlock Origin on Chrome". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  8. ↑ Buria, Taras (3 Aug 2024). "uBlock Origin developer recommends switching to uBlock Lite as Chrome flags the extension". Neowin. Archived from the original on 2024-08-03. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Edward (13 Mar 2024). "Manifest V3 & Manifest V2 (March 2024 update)". Mozilla. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  10. ↑ "What Manifest V3 means for Brave Shields and the use of extensions in the Brave browser". Brave. 27 Jun 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-08-05. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  11. ↑ "Manifest v3 update: Vivaldi is future-proofed with its built-in functionality". Vivaldi. 17 Jun 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 24 Mar 2025.
  12. ↑ "LICENSE". Google Git. Archived from the original on 2025-06-01. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
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