VPN Coalition Objects to Sweeping Website Blocking Law in France

The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) has strongly opposed a legal effort in France that seeks to force VPN providers to block access to piracy-related websites.

In an official letter, the coalition argues that this measure not only threatens online privacy but also exposes users to heightened cybersecurity risks.

This development follows legal action by French rightsholders, including Canal+ and the French Professional Football League (LFP), who are pushing for VPN services to participate in website blocking efforts. A court hearing is scheduled for March, with major VPN providers — including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark — summoned to appear in December 2024.

VTI’s core arguments

The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), part of the i2Coalition, promotes security, transparency, and privacy standards in the VPN industry. Its members include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, and CyberGhost, all committed to strong encryption, no-logs policies, and responsible VPN practices.

In its formal response to the situation, VTI stresses that history has proven such restrictions ineffective, as blocking digital infrastructure does not address the root causes of piracy. Instead, the organization warns that forcing VPNs to implement restrictions could:

• Drive users toward less secure VPN alternatives, increasing cybercrime risks.
• Undermine legitimate privacy and security protections that VPNs provide.
• Set a dangerous precedent for government overreach into encrypted services.

The coalition highlights that existing piracy-blocking measures worldwide have often led to overblocking, affecting lawful content and undermining open internet principles. The letter also underscores that VPN providers committed to security and transparency — such as those following VTI’s industry principles — should not be treated the same as bad actors facilitating piracy.

VPN providers consider exiting France

The VPN Trust Initiative, which is part of the i2Coalition, represents major VPN providers but does not speak directly for individual members. However, its Executive Director, Christian Dawson, has confirmed that some providers are weighing their options, including withdrawing from the French market.

Dawson points to past cases where VPN services exited restrictive markets, such as India and Pakistan, due to laws conflicting with privacy and encryption standards. If the French court upholds the blocking demands, VPN providers may be forced to choose between compliance and maintaining their commitment to privacy.

VTI’s letter warns that the French proposal aligns with broader global trends where governments attempt to regulate encrypted services under the pretext of combating illegal content. It draws comparisons to China, Russia, Iran, and Myanmar, where VPN restrictions have been used as tools for censorship.

The coalition also notes that similar blocking measures have led to unintended consequences in Malaysia, South Korea, and Australia, where IP filtering resulted in overblocking and access issues for legitimate users.

As of now, the French court has not yet approved the blocking request, but a decision could set a precedent for future regulatory action. ProtonVPN has already indicated that it is prepared to challenge the ruling at the highest European court if necessary.