France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls starting Aug. 11 under a new law that requires companies to secure prior consent from consumers — consent that can be revoked. The rule replaces the opt-out do-not-call registry and carries heavy fines: up to €75,000 for individuals and €375,000 for companies per illegal call. Limited exceptions apply for existing contractual relationships; consumers can report violations via a government website. The law has prompted concerns about potential job losses in Moroccan call centers.
France Prohibits Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls From Aug. 11 — Heavy Fines, Limited Exceptions
FILE - A person uses his phone near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File)
PARIS (AP) — Beginning Aug. 11, France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law designed to protect consumers from intrusive sales pitches and to reduce the exposure of vulnerable people to fraudulent commercial practices.
The legislation, backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government, replaces the previous opt-out registry and requires companies to obtain a consumer's prior consent before placing marketing calls. That consent can be withdrawn at any time.
What the Law Changes
Previously, people who wanted to avoid marketing calls had to register their number with a government-run do-not-call list; consumer groups said some call centers ignored that registry. Under the new rule, businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers unless they have explicit prior consent. Companies may still contact customers with new offers if they already have an existing contractual relationship.
"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 "That consent can be withdrawn at any time."
Penalties, Reporting And Enforcement
The law imposes steep penalties to deter illegal calls: individuals who make unlawful calls can face fines of up to €75,000 (about $87,000) per call, while companies can be fined up to €375,000 (about $435,000) per call. Consumers can report unsolicited calls through a government website, and authorities have pointed to past enforcement — including a €6 million ($6.9 million) fine levied last year against an Ireland-based firm for breaching earlier French rules — as evidence the state will enforce the new law.
Exceptions And Practical Notes
- Consumers may voluntarily give consent to receive marketing calls (for example, by checking a consent box when signing up for a service).
- Companies may contact existing customers with offers related to an ongoing contractual relationship.
- The law does not ban all commercial calls; it prioritizes consumer consent and clarity about how consent is obtained and withdrawn.
Broader Impact And International Context
The government framed the law as a response to years of complaints: authorities estimate roughly three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call each week. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations called for a ban, denouncing "relentless harassment" by telemarketers.
The move has provoked concerns abroad. Morocco's employment minister, Younes Sekkouri, warned that between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs could be at risk in Moroccan call centers that rely heavily on the French market. Neighboring Germany has had a similar ban since 2009, while many other countries — including the U.S., Canada and the U.K. — operate opt-out "do not call" lists with varying enforcement and penalties.
Parliament approved the law last year, and authorities say it will give consumers stronger control over when and how businesses can contact them by phone.
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AP writer Jill Lawless in London contributed.
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