France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls starting August 11, under a new law designed to protect consumers from unwanted sales calls and curb fraudulent commercial practices.
The legislation, backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, introduces an opt-in system requiring businesses to obtain a consumer’s prior consent before making marketing calls. French authorities estimate that approximately three-quarters of the population receive at least one unsolicited sales call every week, with many receiving several.
This reform comes after years of complaints from consumer groups. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations jointly called for a complete ban on unsolicited telemarketing, describing repeated calls to landlines and mobile phones as a persistent intrusion into people’s daily lives.
Stricter rules and tougher penalties
“Businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent,” stated Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF). “That consent can be withdrawn at any time.”
The French parliament approved the legislation on June 30, 2025, with its provisions set to take effect on August 11.
Individuals who make illegal marketing calls face fines of up to €75,000, while companies can be fined up to €375,000. Consumers will also be able to report unsolicited calls through a government website.
The law includes limited exceptions. Businesses may contact consumers who have explicitly agreed to receive marketing calls, for example, by ticking a consent box on a form. Companies may also make commercial calls to existing customers when a contractual relationship already exists.
These new rules replace France’s previous opt-out system, under which consumers could register their numbers on a government “Do Not Call” list. Authorities acknowledged that some companies ignored those restrictions.
Potential impact on Morocco
The legislation has drawn particular attention in Morocco due to its potential impact on the country’s call-center industry. In March, Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri warned that between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs could be at risk, noting that the French market accounts for over 80% of the sector’s revenue.
Sekkouri described the call-center industry as one of Morocco’s most dynamic economic sectors, generating between MAD 10 billion and MAD 12 billion in added value each year while supporting nearly 120,000 direct jobs and approximately 50,000 indirect jobs.
In response, the government states it has adopted a strategy to preserve the sector’s competitiveness and limit job losses. The plan focuses on helping Moroccan companies diversify into new markets beyond France, encouraging a shift toward higher value-added services, strengthening workforce training and digital skills, and supporting businesses through measures aimed at easing their transition and boosting innovation.
