France orders internet service providers to block Polymarket, citing addictive mechanics and weak user protections.
Regulation & Gov ·
French internet service providers have been ordered to block access to Polymarket, the prediction market platform, according to authorities citing concerns over addictive mechanics and insufficient user protections. The action follows earlier financial restrictions that the regulator found had not achieved sufficient compliance.
The blocking order reflects France's broader interventionist approach to digital platforms and consumer safeguards. As a civil-law jurisdiction with centralized regulatory oversight, France has historically maintained a strict stance on financial services and consumer protection, enforcing EU directives through national agencies including the AMF and ACPR with comparatively prescriptive implementation.
The extent of compliance from internet service providers and the potential effectiveness of the blocking measure remain unclear. Polymarket users may still retain access through technical workarounds, and the durability of such enforcement actions across borderless digital markets is not yet established.