France Is Banning Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls Starting Next Week
The new law shifts France to an opt-in system and allows fines of up to 375,000 euros per illegal call, officials said.
- On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, France implemented a ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls, requiring companies to obtain consumer consent before contacting individuals with commercial sales pitches.
- Abandoning the ineffective Bloctel opt-out registry, the government prioritized mandatory consent after 97% of the population reported annoyance with persistent daily telemarketing calls.
- Companies face fines up to €375,000 per illegal call, while individuals face €75,000, as Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud, stated "businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent."
- The ban threatens up to 50,000 jobs in Morocco, though Youssef Chraïbi, president of the Moroccan Federation for Outsourcing Services, noted that telemarketing now represents only 15% to 20% of total industry activity.
- Mirroring global trends, the move aligns with Germany, which enforced a similar ban since 2009, and the Netherlands, which tightened its telemarketing rules last month.
96 Articles
96 Articles
France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls and adds hefty fines
France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls 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 entered into force Tuesday. While several countries have tried opt-out systems, France is hoping more muscular obligatory opt-in rules will be more effective. Here’s a look at the measure and its p…
A ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls is already in force in France. However, there are exceptions, reports the BBC.
Have you ever answered an unknown phone number and been directly sold a product or service? In France, around three-quarters of people receive at least one such call every week. That's far too many, say lawmakers, who have now banned so-called telemarketing. Violators face fines of up to €375,000 per call.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
