VPNs are Essential Tools for Privacy and Security, and Should Not Become a Political Football

Today, in a regrettable move, the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris extended blocking orders to several VPN providers operating within France. The ruling is designed to restrict access to specific websites for users in France, or French overseas territories, risking the integrity of the Internet. 

The legal action, brought by Canal+, and the Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP), aims to prevent users from reaching sites that host or stream unlawful sports content.

The French ruling not only misplaces responsibility: it fundamentally threatens the privacy and security of millions of users in France and beyond. This blocking approach—which has failed in the past—relies on blunt technical instruments instead of precise enforcement tools to address the actual sources of piracy. Therefore it will not reduce infringement, and will only cause widespread collateral damage.

Recognized globally as essential content-neutral services for cybersecurity, VPNs play a crucial role in safeguarding users on the Internet and enabling access to independent media—particularly in countries with a high level of censorship. As France follows the troubling path of other jurisdictions that impose limits on VPNs, VTI emphatically rejects the argument that these content-neutral service providers are facilitators of piracy. 

Ethically-operated VPNs do not host, store, or promote illegitimate access to copyrighted material. In fact, they unequivocally prohibit the misuse of VPNs for illegal activities. Targeting reputable VPN services is a misguided and disproportionate approach, and targeting these legitimate VPN providers may drive their focus away from the French market—creating space for unethical and malicious actors to fill the void.

The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI), an i2Coalition Working Group, has been following this and similar legislative efforts closely, and has released a full statement, which you can read here:

VTI Response to French Blocking Ruling: Limiting VPNs is Misguided and Ineffective

About the i2Coalition 

The i2Coalition (Internet Infrastructure Coalition) is the voice of the Internet’s builders. Representing web hosting companies, data centers, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, and managed services providers, we advocate for policies that protect innovation and support the Internet’s critical role in the global economy.

Our story began in 2011 during the successful fight against SOPA and PIPA, rallying the industry to protect the free flow of information online. Since formally founding in 2012, the i2Coalition has championed initiatives to keep the Internet open, secure, and accessible.

To learn more about the i2Coalition and explore membership, please visit i2Coalition.com.