The European Commission has officially launched DNS4EU, a European-based DNS resolver aimed at enhancing privacy, cybersecurity, and digital sovereignty across the EU. The initiative, first announced in January 2023, is co-funded by the EU and supported by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).
DNS4EU was created to offer a competitive alternative to widely used public DNS services like Google’s Public DNS (8.8.8.8) and Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1). By ensuring that all user data remains within European borders, DNS4EU helps organizations comply with strict data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
One of DNS4EU’s features is its real-time threat intelligence sharing across EU member states. In collaboration with national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and telecom providers, the system can quickly identify and block cyber threats, such as malware and phishing domains, across multiple regions simultaneously.
The service is available in two main forms: a free public DNS resolver for individual users, which includes basic protections like ad blocking and parental controls, and a specialized version for governments and telecom operators, offering advanced security features.
The project is managed by an international consortium, comprising private cybersecurity companies, CERTs, and academic institutions from 10 European Union countries, the Commission said.
The Commission also said that DNS4EU is not a tool for censorship.
“This project provides the European Commission with no means of censorship. Furthermore, this would be against the goals of the project, which aims to strengthen digital sovereignty,” notes the project’s website. “The EU will not have access to configuration, data, etc. On top of that, DNS4EU will not be forced on anyone. It will merely abide to local regulations required of internet service provider. In other words, DNS4EU is not a way toward censorship, but actually toward data protection and better internet security and sovereignty for Europeans.”
