France Bans Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls After 97% Reported Annoyance
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 11
France Bans Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls After 97% Reported Annoyance
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 11
Summary
From Tuesday, France bars unsolicited telemarketing calls across all sectors, allowing them only for existing contracts or when consumers have given prior consent.
A 2025 parliamentary report underpinned the move: 97% of people said such calls annoy them, 72% were contacted on mobile phones at least weekly, and 38% daily.
Que Choisir Ensemble called the change a consumer victory and a "small revolution," saying it ends the assumption that people at home are potential customers.
Business groups say the law adds compliance burdens because companies must secure and retain proof of written consent, while Morocco warned the hit to French-facing call centers could cost up to 50,000 jobs.
France joins countries including Germany, Austria and Italy in imposing strong curbs on cold calls, going further than systems such as the UK's opt-out approach.