In brief
France has outlawed unsolicited telemarketing calls across all sectors, permitting calls only if a customer has existing contracts or given prior consent. The move is hailed by consumer advocates as a small revolution, while business associations warn of administrative burdens and potential job losses, especially for Morocco’s call‑centre sector. The law reflects a broader European trend to curb “cold calls” and protect the right to peace and quiet. While critics point to the impact on marketing budgets, data shows that 97 % of French citizens are annoyed by such calls, making the change timely.
France has banned unsolicited telemarketing phone calls, a move hailed by consumer advocacy groups as a "small revolution" in the sales industry.
Starting Tuesday, businesses in all sectors cannot make unsolicited calls, except under limited circumstances. Calls are now permitted only if they relate to a contract a person has already entered into or if the company has obtained prior consent to be contacted for marketing.
"Peace and quiet is a right, and it is time to stop exposing consumers to unwanted solicitations," says Marie‑Amandine Stévenin, president of Que Choisir Ensemble. She added that the group has long advocated for ending the automatic assumption that every private life contact could be a potential customer.
The change has ruffled some business groups and concerned officials in Morocco, where the tele‑marketing sector relies heavily on the French market. A 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, criticised the reforms for adding administrative burdens, noting that companies would now need written consent and proof of that consent. Billon was quoted by the New York Times.
A 2025 parliamentary report found that 97% of French people are annoyed by telemarketing calls, noting it as one of those rare issues that unites people in France. The report also revealed that 72% of French people reported being contacted on their mobile phones at least once a week, and 38% said they were called once a day.
Germany, Austria, and Italy also impose significant restrictions on cold calls. In the UK, most telemarketing calls are legal provided the recipient has not objected to the call and their number is not on a statutory list of people or businesses that do not want to receive calls.
