France has implemented a ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls across all sectors, a move consumer groups are celebrating as a significant victory for consumer rights. The new regulation requires prior consent or an existing contract for any marketing calls.
This regulatory shift in France significantly impacts the telemarketing and direct sales industries, potentially affecting employment in related sectors and requiring businesses to fundamentally alter their customer outreach strategies to comply with new consent requirements.
France has enacted a ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls, a move celebrated by consumer advocacy groups as a significant step towards protecting consumer peace and quiet. Effective immediately, businesses across all sectors are prohibited from making marketing calls unless the recipient has an existing contract with the company or has explicitly given prior consent for such contact.
Consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble lauded the change, with president Marie-Amandine Stévenin stating it was a victory for the vast majority of French citizens who do not wish to receive unwanted sales calls. The group has long advocated for an end to the assumption that individuals in their private lives are potential customers.
However, the new regulation has drawn criticism from some business associations and officials in Morocco, where the call center industry is heavily reliant on the French market. One Moroccan government minister estimated that the restrictions could lead to the loss of up to 50,000 jobs. Frédéric Billon, head of France's direct-selling trade association, also voiced concerns, highlighting the new administrative burdens for businesses, such as the requirement to obtain and retain written customer consent.
According to a 2025 parliamentary report, telemarketing calls are a rare issue that unites the French population, with 97% of people expressing annoyance. The report also indicated that 72% of French individuals are contacted by phone for marketing purposes at least once a week, and 38% receive such calls daily.
Several other European countries, including Germany, Austria, and Italy, already have significant restrictions on telemarketing calls. The UK's regulations are less stringent, generally permitting calls unless the recipient has opted out or their number is on a do-not-call list.