EU-Backed DNS Resolver Collects Pirate Site Blocklist, Which It Doesn’t Use

▤ Summary

DNS4EU, the EU-backed DNS resolver operated by Whalebone, collected pirate-site blocklist data from BREIN but decided not to use it. The service was originally designed as a privacy-first European alternative to Google Public DNS and Cloudflare, with legal-content filtering built into its funding requirements. DNS4EU’s policy says it only blocks DNS resolution when law, court orders, or government authority require it, or when a user chooses to. Its transparency report shows voluntary blocking activity mostly for phishing and scam domains, with zero copyright-related blocks. The story highlights how DNS resolver policy, compliance, and filtering capabilities can shape operational decisions for a software service.

▦ Linked Companies