France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls next week under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practices. The law backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government enters into force on Tuesday, August 11. The government says the law is a response to years of consumer complaints. Authorities estimate that about three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call every week, and many receive more. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations issued a joint call for a ban, denouncing "relentless harassment of consumers through countless unwanted telemarketing calls to both landlines and mobile phones – an intrusion that has become a regular part of their daily lives." Now, "businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent," said Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud. "That consent can be withdrawn at any time." People can report unsolicited calls online Parliament approved the law last year. An unwanted call faces fines of up to €375,000. Individuals who make illegal calls can be fined up to €75,000 ($87,000) per call. Companies can face fines of up to €375,000 ($435,000) per call. People can report unsolicited calls through a government website. There are exceptions. Consumers may consent to receive marketing calls, for example by checking a consent box on a form. Companies can contact customers with new commercial offers if they already have a contractual relationship. Previously in France, people who wanted to avoid marketing calls had to register their number with a government-run service, but consumer groups said some call centers ignored the list. Vilcot noted that an Ireland-based company was fined €6 million ($6.9 million) last year for violating France’s previous telemarketing rules by calling people on the no-call list. Law raises concerns in Morocco Other countries have tried to limit calls. Neighboring Germany has had a similar ban since 2009. Many other countries rely on opt-out systems. In the United States, people can sign up for the national Do Not Call registry, which cuts down on unwanted sales calls, Canada has its own Do Not Call list, while the UK has the Telephone Preference Service. In Britain, companies that call people who have opted out can be fined up to £500,000 ($670,000) per call. On the other hand, France's new law has raised concerns in Morocco, where Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri, said in March that between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs were at risk in the country’s call centers. Sekkouri said the French market accounts for more than 80% of revenue in the sector.