France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls starting August 11, enacting a new law designed to protect consumers from aggressive sales tactics and shield vulnerable populations from fraudulent practices. The legislation, backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government, replaces a previous system where individuals had to register their numbers on a government-run list to avoid marketing calls, a method that consumer advocates found ineffective as some call centers disregarded it.
Under the new law, "businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent,” said Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud. “That consent can be withdrawn at any time.” The government stated the law is a direct response to years of consumer complaints. An estimated three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call weekly, with many receiving more.
In 2024, 11 consumer organizations collectively called for a ban, describing the situation as "relentless harassment of consumers through countless unwanted telemarketing calls to both landlines and mobile phones — an intrusion that has become a regular part of their daily lives." Parliament approved the law last year.
Violators face significant penalties. Individuals making illegal calls could be fined up to 75,000 euros ($87,000) per instance, while companies could incur fines of up to 375,000 euros ($435,000) per call. Exceptions to the ban include situations where consumers have explicitly consented to receive marketing calls, such as by checking a consent box on a form. Companies may also contact existing customers with new commercial offers if they have an established contractual relationship.
Consumers can report unwanted calls through a dedicated government website. Last year, an Ireland-based company was fined 6 million euros ($6.9 million) for violating France's prior telemarketing regulations by calling individuals on the opt-out list.
The new French law has prompted concerns in Morocco, where the minister of employment, Younes Sekkouri, stated in March that the French market accounts for over 80% of revenue for the country's call centers, potentially putting 40,000 to 50,000 jobs at risk.
Neighboring Germany has had a similar ban in place since 2009. Many other countries, including the United States with its national Do Not Call registry, Canada with its own Do Not Call list, and the U.K. with its Telephone Preference Service, utilize opt-out systems. In Britain, companies calling individuals who have opted out can be fined up to 500,000 pounds ($670,000) per call.