[readams]

Chrome exists to counter the previous platform browser monopoly from Microsoft, which was holding back the web from being a viable application platform. It was never been about surveillance and doesn't do a very good job of surveillance if that were the goal.

[NoGravitas]

Chrome was created to counter the previous platform browser monopoly from Microsoft. Once that was achieved, it pivoted. First to making sure Google has a controlling stake in setting web standards, and then to surveillance. Surveillance features: FLoC, Manifest v3, Web Attestation. The surveillance features have often flopped or been beaten back, but they keep being introduced.