France has introduced a ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls, effective from Tuesday, under which businesses across all sectors are prohibited from making sales calls unless the call relates to an existing contract the recipient has entered into or the company has obtained prior consent to make contact for marketing purposes.
France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls with limited exceptions
France has introduced a ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls, effective from Tuesday, under which businesses across all sectors are prohibited from making sales calls unless the call relates to an existing contract the recipient has entered into or the company has obtained prior consent to make contact for marketing purposes.
Consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble described the measure as a 'small revolution' for the sales industry, with group president Marie-Amandine Stévenin stating in a written statement that 'peace and quiet is a right' and that consumers should no longer be exposed to unwanted solicitations. She said the group had long advocated against the assumption that a person at home or in their private life is automatically a potential customer.
A 2025 parliamentary report cited in coverage of the change found that 97% of people in France reported being annoyed by telemarketing calls, with the report's authors noting it was 'one of those rare issues that unites people in France.' The same report found that 72% of French people said they were contacted on their mobile phones at least once a week, and 38% reported receiving such calls at least once a day.
The law change has drawn criticism from some business groups. The head of France's direct-selling trade association, the Fédération de la Vente Directe, said the reforms added administrative burdens, noting that businesses would be required to obtain written consent from customers and retain proof of that consent.
Officials in Morocco also raised concerns, as the country's call centre sector is reportedly heavily reliant on the French market. One Moroccan government minister estimated the restrictions could result in the loss of up to 50,000 jobs, according to a report in Moroccan newspaper Le Matin.
Several other European countries, including Germany, Austria and Italy, already impose significant restrictions on unsolicited telemarketing calls. In the United Kingdom, most such calls remain legal provided the recipient has not objected and their number does not appear on a statutory list of those who do not wish to receive calls.
- The source does not identify which specific French legislative body or government authority enacted the ban or when it was passed into law.
- The source does not specify what penalties or enforcement mechanisms apply to businesses that violate the new rules.
- The source does not establish how many jobs in France's domestic telemarketing sector may be affected.
- The source does not confirm the Moroccan minister's job-loss estimate with independent data or government sources.
- The source does not detail what qualifies as valid 'prior consent' under the new framework.
- The source does not state whether the ban applies to calls originating outside France targeting French consumers.