In brief
France has outlawed unsolicited telemarketing calls, a move praised by consumer advocates as a win for privacy and quiet. The ban applies across all sectors, with exceptions only for contract-related calls or where prior consent exists. Business groups warn that the change will cost up to 50,000 jobs in Morocco’s call‑centre sector and add administrative burdens. The legislation comes after a 2025 report ranking 97% of French people annoyed by such calls, a sentiment shared by many across Europe.
On Tuesday, France officially prohibited unsolicited telemarketing calls across all industry sectors. The law allows calls only when they refer to an existing contract or when the company has obtained written, prior consent from the consumer.
"It cannot be stressed enough that peace and quiet is a right, and it is time to stop exposing consumers to unwanted solicitations," said Marie‑Amandine Stévenin, president of the consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble. She called the ban a “victory for consumers, the vast majority of whom do not want to receive sales calls.”
Business backlash is already evident. The head of France’s direct‑selling trade association, the Fédération de la Vente Directe, warned that companies would face administrative burdens to “obtain written consent and keep proof of that consent.” The New York Times quoted him saying, “You’ll have to obtain written consent from your customer, and you’ll also have to keep proof of that consent.”
The restrictions may hit the international call‑centre market. A Moroccan government minister estimated that up to 50,000 jobs could be lost in Morocco, where many call‑centres serve French customers. The impact was highlighted by a Moroccan newspaper, Le Matin, following the new French law.
A 2025 parliamentary report found that 97% of French citizens are annoyed by telemarketing calls; 72% reported being contacted on their mobile phones at least once a week, while 38% claimed to be called once a day. The report added that this issue “unites people in France.”
Around Europe, Germany, Austria and Italy impose similar restrictions on cold calls, while the UK permits most telemarketing calls as long as the recipient has not objected and the number is not on a statutory do‑not‑call list.
