- The EU released its own DNS resolution, promising to be more compatible with privacy and cybernetic
- The DNS4EU is produced as an alternative to the main services based in the US
- While it is still voluntary for all EU citizens, some privacy experts warn of possible problems related to the filtering and content privacy
The European Union has officially presented its DNS resolution, which promises to strengthen privacy and security for EU citizens, government organizations and telecommunications providers throughout the block.
The DNS4EU wants to be an alternative to the main public DNS services based in the US.
However, this is not just a DNS developed by the EU. The DNS4EU comes with built -in filters against malicious domains, such as those that house malware, phishing or other cyber security threats. The domestic user version also includes the possibility of blocking ads and/or adult content.
While their use remains voluntary, some privacy experts warn against potential problems around content filtering and privacy.
What is the DNS4EU?
As the EU Commission wrote on its official website: “DNS4EU’s goal is to guarantee EU digital sovereignty by providing a private, safe and independent European DNS resolution.”
The domain name system continues, a DNS resolution acts as the Internet telephone guide, translating users requests into numbers (IP addresses) to connect them with the correct websites.
Every time it connects to the Internet, it is its Internet services provider (ISP) that chooses the DNS to redirect its traffic. However, an organization or end users can choose to change services to improve connection speeds, improve safety and privacy, or better control the geographical location of content (similar to what the best VPN does).
Submitted for the first time in October 2022, the project was developed under the supervision of the EU Enisa cyber security agency and is currently administered by a paneuropean consortium directed by the Czech Czech Cybersecurity firm Whallebone, which includes experts from 10 EU countries.
This week, the DNS4EU public service was launched for the testing group of interested parties. Thanks to all involved. We are currently collecting comments to support the final adjustments. The official public launch that will be held next week. Be attentive. #DNS4EU #CyBersecury #dns pic.twitter.com/g0uaqiutdcJune 6, 2025
The DNS4EU, which the EU ensures that “will not be forced to anyone,” has been developed to meet the needs of different users.
The version of domestic users is a free and free DNS resolution that comes with the option of adding filters to block ads, malware, adult content or all of these, or none. There is also a dedicated version for government entities and telecommunications suppliers that operate within the European Union.
As mentioned above, the DNS4EU comes with a built -in filter to block dangerous traffic along with the ability to provide regional threat intelligence. This means that a malicious threat discovered in a country could be blocked simultaneously in several regions and countries, de facto stopping its propagation.
“DNS4EU threat intelligence is improved by computer response equipment (cert) and other institutions throughout the EU, providing information about the specific threats of the EU, as well as by data on cyber attacks collected through Telco’s partners,” explains the EU.
What do experts say?
The ability to filter unwanted content has caused concerns among experts since its inception.
For example, speaking with Torrentfreak in 2022, a former Euro Group for the German Pirate Party, Patrick Breyer, pointed out how “a DSA scheme administered by the Government entails the risk of online censorship.”
Talking to Techradar at the time of writing, Breyer welcomes the decision to leave traffic filtering capabilities as optional. “However, it remains to be seen how the operator will react to filtering demands. Using a service sponsored by the government can be a risk due to the wishes of the law agencies and intelligence agencies,” he said.
The senior director of the European Government and the regulatory issues of the Internet Society, David Frautschy Heredia, also warns against potential risks related to content filtering, arguing that “safeguards should develop to avoid abuse.”
Heredia also fears that the application of geographical borders to global infrastructure can generate more damage than in the long term.
He told Techradar: “This normalizes the approach and could inspire other actors from all over the world to introduce their own DNS resonores, which may be mandatory to use. Other countries, including Mauricio and Kazakhstan, have previously tried to impose the mandatory use of national DNS solutions, with the ability of indiscriminate filtration.”
In addition to these potential problems, Breyer also pointed out that the DNS4EU lacks a policy without registration. This is a guarantee that no registration of user activities is stored.
According to the DNS4EU policy issued on June 1, 2025, the service collects a limited number of DNS consultation data and IP addresses. The latter are more anonymized directly in DNS resolution.
However, “the record of all requests, even mostly anonymous, comes with risks,” Breyer told us.
For its part, the EU promises to never share any information that can identify an individual. It also rejects any concern about censorship, promising that the EU will not have access to the configuration and data of users equally.
“DNS4EU is not a form of censorship, but in reality towards data protection and better security and sovereignty on the Internet for Europeans,” says the official website.
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