France Bans Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls, Sparking Concerns in Morocco
New regulations in France prohibit cold calling across all business sectors, with exceptions only for existing contracts or prior consent.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- France has officially banned unsolicited telemarketing calls across all business sectors.
- Calls are only permitted for existing contracts or when consumers give prior marketing consent.
- Business groups and Moroccan officials warn the restrictions could risk up to 50,000 jobs.
Starting Tuesday, unsolicited calls are strictly prohibited for businesses operating in all sectors, though a handful of exceptions apply. Calls will only be allowed if they directly relate to a contract an individual has already entered into, or if the company has obtained prior consent from the consumer to be contacted for marketing purposes.
Consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble stated that peace and quiet is a fundamental right and urged an end to exposing consumers to unwanted solicitations. Group president Marie-Amandine Stévenin added that online platforms and streets are similarly saturated with demands to consume. She noted that the group had long advocated to eliminate the automatic assumption that anyone in their private life is a prospective customer, hailing the new rule as a victory for the vast majority of consumers who reject sales calls.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, the legislative shift has frustrated various business groups as well as officials in Morocco, where the call center industry heavily depends on the French market. According to a report by the Moroccan newspaper Le Matin, one government minister estimated that the telemarketing restrictions could result in the loss of up to 50,000 jobs. Additionally, the head of France's direct-selling trade association, the Fédération de la Vente Directe or FVD, criticized the reforms for introducing unnecessary administrative burdens on companies.
The total ban on cold calling in France highlights a broader European regulatory trend towards stricter consumer privacy and reduced digital intrusion. While countries like Germany, Austria, and Italy maintain significant restrictions on telemarketing, the UK continues to permit most cold calls provided recipients have not opted out. France's decisive move underscores a growing legislative appetite to protect domestic consumers, even as it creates economic friction with cross-border outsourcing hubs.
"This is a victory for consumers, the vast majority of whom do not want to receive sales calls."
Marie-Amandine Stévenin
A 2025 parliamentary report revealed that 97% of people are annoyed by telemarketing calls, with the authors noting it is one of those rare topics that unites people in France. The same report found that 72% of French citizens reported being contacted on their mobile phones at least once a week, while 38% stated they received calls on a daily basis.
Source: BBC Business
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