France has prohibited unsolicited telemarketing calls across all business sectors starting this week, drawing praise from consumer advocates but criticism from industry groups concerned about job losses and administrative compliance.
France has enacted legislation banning unsolicited telemarketing calls, a move that consumer advocacy groups are celebrating as a significant consumer protection measure. Under the new rules effective from Tuesday, businesses across all sectors are prohibited from making unsolicited sales calls. Companies may only contact consumers if they have an existing contractual relationship with them or have obtained explicit prior written consent for marketing communications.
Consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble framed the legislation as essential protection for household tranquility. The organization's president, Marie-Amandine Stévenin, emphasized that the law addresses a longstanding concern, stating that consumers should not be automatically presumed to be potential customers in their private spaces. A 2025 parliamentary report underscores public sentiment on the issue, finding that 97% of French people report annoyance with telemarketing calls. The same report noted that 72% of French residents receive marketing calls on mobile phones at least weekly, with 38% experiencing daily calls.
However, the legislation has generated significant pushback from business interests. The head of France's direct-selling association warned that companies must now maintain written documentation of customer consent, creating administrative complexity. Industry officials in Morocco have raised particular concerns, with one government minister estimating the restrictions could eliminate up to 50,000 jobs in the call centre sector, which heavily depends on the French market.
France joins several other European nations in restricting unsolicited calls. Germany, Austria, and Italy maintain comparable restrictions, while the United Kingdom permits most telemarketing calls unless recipients have explicitly objected or registered their numbers on a statutory exclusion list.
