Quad9 DNS Resolver to exit France

Effective November 24, Quad9 will discontinue its free cyberprotection service to users in France. This decision stems from a recent unfavorable ruling from the French courts, which challenges the transparency and stability of the internet. The court ruled in favor of beIN, a Qatari company, requiring Quad9 to block DNS resolution for specific domain names used in copyright infringement of beIN's audiovisual rights.

While the financial penalty has been reduced to €1,000 per day, Quad9 refuses to comply due to principle. The organization maintains that recursive DNS resolution is a neutral service and refuses to manipulate or mislead users about DNS responses. Compliance would be technically unfeasible, as Quad9 has no database linking users to specific jurisdictions.

The court's decision would require Quad9 to apply French legal decisions globally, which contradicts the organization's commitment to privacy, security, and internet integrity.