# Quad9 Leaves France

> Quad9 ends free DNS service in France after court rules against its privacy protections.
- Title: Quad9 Leaves France · Quad9 | Shortify
- Summary: Quad9 ends free DNS service in France after court rules against its privacy protections. Quad9 will stop providing free DNS security to French users starting…
- Keywords: quad9, dns, france, internet privacy, court ruling, recursive dns, cybersecurity, bein, domain names, copyright infringement, legal challenges, internet freedom
- Source: Quad9 — https://quad9.net/news/blog/au-revoir-france
- Published: 2026-10-22T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: quad9, dns, france, internet privacy, court ruling, recursive dns, cybersecurity, bein, domain names, copyright infringement, legal challenges, internet freedom
## Farewell, France
Quad9 will no longer offer free cyberprotection to users in France starting November 24, 2026.
## Court Ruling
French courts ruled against Quad9 in a major case that undermines internet transparency and stability.
## Financial Penalty
The court reduced Quad9's daily penalty from €580,000 to €1,000, but compliance remains impossible.
## Principle Over Compliance
Quad9 refuses to block DNS resolution for French users as it violates its mission to protect privacy and internet integrity.
## Why Compliance Fails
Quad9 has no user database by jurisdiction, so it cannot identify French users to comply with the ruling.
## Global Blocking Option
Adding domain names to global malicious blocking would apply French law worldwide, which Quad9 rejects.
## GeoIP Blocking Problem
GeoIP blocking fails because French courts have previously fined Quad9 for circumventing blocks using VPNs.
## Sony Case Experience
Quad9 lost a case against Sony in 2021-2023, which cost six figures and delayed services for years.
## Decision to Leave
Quad9 will withdraw services from France starting November 24, 2026, to avoid legal risks and stay true to its mission.
## Impact on Users
French users lose cybersecurity protection as Quad9 serves critical networks including government, education, and healthcare.
## Why This Matters
Forcing DNS blocking harms French digital sovereignty and privacy, contradicting national interests for short-term gains.
## What Happens Next
Quad9 will appeal the ruling and continue legal defense while urging french citizens to advocate for internet freedom.
## Partial French Networks
Quad9 serves networks including government agencies, universities, hospitals, and regional authorities in France.
## The Real Problem
DNS blocking is ineffective against piracy as content remains available under new names, making legal actions counterproductive.
## Call to Action
French citizens should tell legislators that name lookups are not criminal offenses to protect internet freedom.
## Key takeaway

Quad9 will stop providing free DNS security to French users starting November 24, 2026, due to a court ruling that forces it to block domain names for copyright infringement claims.