Quad9 to shut down DNS resolver service for France users on November 24
Quad9, the free public DNS resolver service, announced it will stop offering recursive DNS resolution to users in France starting November 24. The move follows a French court ruling in favor of Qatari broadcaster beIN that ordered Quad9 to block resolution of certain domain names accused of hosting pirated sports broadcasts, though the court did lower the proposed daily fine from €580,000 to €1,000.
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Quad9 frames its exit as a principled stand, arguing that altering DNS responses to comply with court orders would contradict its mission of neutral, privacy-protecting internet infrastructure. The case could set a precedent for how courts in Europe attempt to use DNS-level blocking to enforce copyright claims, potentially pressuring other resolver operators to make similar choices between compliance and withdrawal. French users may lose access to a privacy-focused DNS alternative, according to Quad9, which says no comparable compliant option currently exists.
- Quad9 will stop serving French users on November 24, 2026 due to a court ruling.
- The ruling, won by broadcaster beIN, reduced the daily fine from €580,000 to €1,000 but still required domain blocking.
- Quad9 says compliance would conflict with its neutrality principles, prompting full withdrawal from the French market.
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Published there as: “Quad9 (DNS Resolver) to Exit France”
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