Quad9 leaves France

Quad9, a public DNS service known for its neutrality and security, has announced it will stop operating in France starting Monday, November 24. The service helps users by translating website names into IP addresses and blocking harmful domains.

French networks rely on Quad9

Quad9 is used by individuals and important networks in France, including the national rail company SNCF, energy firm EDF, and the university network RENATER. Users will need to update their DNS settings within a month if they currently use Quad9.

Legal dispute with beIN Sports

The decision to leave France is linked to a legal case involving beIN Sports, a French subsidiary of the Qatari media group. In May, a Paris court ordered Google, DNS4EU, and Quad9 to block websites that illegally broadcast WTA tennis matches until November 14. The number of blocked domains increased from 6 to 58.

Quad9 refuses to comply

While Google and DNS4EU followed the court’s order, Quad9 refused, arguing that DNS services should remain neutral and not be used to enforce court decisions. The company believes applying a French court order to users worldwide would be inappropriate.

Financial and legal pressure

beIN Sports initially demanded 10,000 euros per day for each unblocked domain, totaling 580,000 euros daily. This was later reduced to 1,000 euros per day. According to Quad9, this would amount to about 24,000 euros by November 14. The foundation says it could not afford ongoing fines from multiple legal cases in France.

Challenges with enforcement

Quad9 argues that blocking the 58 domains would not be effective, as many other open DNS services allow users to bypass such restrictions. The company has faced similar issues in Germany, where courts ruled against it in a dispute with Sony Music.

Other DNS services available

Users looking for alternatives to Quad9 can choose from several options. Cloudflare DNS blocks malware and phishing and complies with French court orders. DNS4EU, a newer service, is supported by the European Union. AdGuard DNS offers privacy and ad filtering, and HaGeZi’s public DNS is recommended for users familiar with DNS configuration.

Users must update settings

After November 24, devices using Quad9’s DNS (9.9.9.9) will no longer be able to access websites. Users will need to change their DNS settings on routers, Windows, Android, or iPhone devices. They should also check their browser and app settings, as some may default to Quad9’s service without the user’s knowledge.