France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls
New law comes into force to protect consumers from intrusive sales calls.
1New law details
France is implementing a new law banning unsolicited telemarketing calls effective August 11. Under the regulation, commercial calls without prior consumer consent will be prohibited. Companies violating the rules risk fines up to €375,000 per call, while individuals making illegal calls could face penalties up to €75,000 per violation. The law marks a significant shift in consumer protection policy.
2Consumer complaints
Approximately three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unwanted sales call weekly. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations jointly called for a ban, protesting what they described as 'relentless harassment through countless unsolicited calls to landlines and mobile phones.' The government positions the law as a direct response to these widespread consumer complaints about intrusive marketing practices.
3Consent mechanism
The new legislation requires explicit consumer consent for marketing calls, which can be obtained through opt-in checkboxes on forms. Alice Vilcot from the Directorate-General for Competition explained, 'Businesses can no longer contact consumers without their prior consent, which can be withdrawn at any time.' This opt-in approach represents a stricter standard than France's previous call-blocking registry system.
4Exceptions and previous system
Companies may still contact existing customers with new commercial offers if they have an established contractual relationship. France previously operated a government-run 'do not call' registry, but consumer groups reported many call centers ignored the list. The new law eliminates this opt-out system in favor of requiring affirmative consent before any commercial calls.
5International comparisons
Germany has maintained a similar ban since 2009. Other countries like the US, Canada and UK rely on opt-out registries where consumers must actively sign up to block calls. In the UK, companies calling registered numbers face fines up to £500,000 per violation. France's new law establishes one of Europe's strictest telemarketing regimes with its mandatory opt-in requirement.
6Impact on French market
Morocco's Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri warned in March that 40,000-50,000 jobs in Moroccan call centers serving French companies could be at risk. He noted the French market accounts for over 80% of revenue in Morocco's call center sector. The law's implementation may significantly affect outsourcing operations that rely on telemarketing to French consumers.
7Past violation case
An Ireland-based company was fined €6 million last year for violating France's previous telemarketing rules by calling numbers on the national do-not-call list. This high-profile case demonstrated weaknesses in the old system and helped build support for stronger consumer protections through the new legislation.
8Consumer protection priority
France's move represents a landmark in consumer privacy protection, particularly safeguarding vulnerable groups from fraud and aggressive sales tactics. The law sets a new standard that could influence similar regulations across the EU. By shifting to an opt-in model, France positions itself as a leader in prioritizing consumer rights over commercial telemarketing interests.
Original article: Hacker News — Fransa istenmeyen telemarketing çağrılarını yasaklıyor