France to Ban Unwanted Telemarketing Calls — AP
A law banning unsolicited phone calls from companies will take effect in France as early as next week. The new rules are intended to put an end to mass telemarketing without users’ consent and protect citizens from intrusive advertising.
The law, supported by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, takes effect on August 11.
It aims to protect consumers from intrusive offers and to safeguard vulnerable groups from fraudulent commercial practices.
Previously in France, people who wanted to avoid marketing calls had to register their number with a government agency; however, according to consumer organizations, some call centers ignored this list.
Now, “companies are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent,” said Alice Wilko, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Protection, and Fraud Prevention.
“This consent can be revoked at any time,” she noted.
The government says the law is a response to years of consumer complaints. According to official estimates, about three-quarters of French residents receive at least one unwanted sales call per week, and many receive even more.
In 2024, 11 consumer organizations issued a joint call for a ban, condemning "the relentless harassment of consumers through countless unwanted telemarketing calls to both landlines and cell phones—such an intrusion into their private lives has become a routine part of their daily existence."
The French Parliament passed the law last year.
Individuals making illegal calls may be fined up to 75,000 euros per call. Companies face fines of up to 375,000 euros per call.
Consumers can consent to receiving marketing calls, for example, by checking the appropriate box on a form. Companies may contact customers with new commercial offers if a contractual relationship already exists between them.
People can report unwanted calls through the government’s website.
The new French law has raised concerns in Morocco, where Labor Minister Younes Sekkouri stated in March that between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs in the country’s call centers are at risk. Sekkouri noted that the French market accounts for more than 80% of the industry’s revenue.
This was reported by the AP.
As a reminder, Marine Le Pen’s announcement that she would run in the 2027 French presidential election has caused concern among European politicians. Officials in Brussels fear that her potential presidency could seriously complicate the adoption of joint decisions within the European Union.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right party, has officially announced that she will run in the presidential election. At the same time, she continues to appeal a court ruling in a case involving the misuse of European Union funds.
