France has enacted legislation prohibiting unsolicited telemarketing calls across all business sectors, effective Tuesday. Under the new rules, companies may only contact consumers if the call relates to an existing contractual relationship or if the business has obtained prior written consent for marketing communications.
Consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble characterized the measure as a significant shift for the industry, emphasizing that consumers have a right to peace and quiet without unwanted solicitations. The organization noted that this principle should extend to online and street-based marketing as well. According to a parliamentary report from 2025, approximately 97% of French people expressed annoyance with telemarketing calls, with 72% of the population reporting mobile phone contact at least once weekly and 38% receiving daily calls.
The regulatory change has generated opposition from business interests. France’s direct-selling trade association raised concerns about administrative requirements, noting that companies must obtain written consent from customers and maintain documentation of that approval. Officials in Morocco have also expressed concern, with one government minister estimating the restrictions could result in approximately 50,000 job losses in that country’s call center sector, which relies substantially on the French market.
Several other European nations have implemented comparable restrictions on cold calling. Germany, Austria, and Italy maintain significant limitations on unsolicited telemarketing. The United Kingdom permits most telemarketing calls provided recipients have not objected and their numbers do not appear on the statutory do-not-call registry.
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