Ahh my bad, didn’t think of that, but of course it doesn’t.

https://leta.mullvad.net/

A proxy for Google search run by Mullvad

I don’t have an answer but I am piggybacking off your question:

Is it possible to flash another OS on the last gen Chromecast? Considering what’s happening to the gen 2, I don’t see a very bright future for my Chromecast.

Same! It’s my go-to Chromium-based browser. It’s the same folks who created the OG Opera browser (not the current Chromium based one)