France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls with fines up to €375,000
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France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law that took effect Tuesday, imposing fines up to €375,000 per violation for companies. The measure requires businesses to obtain prior consent from consumers, who can withdraw it at any time. The ban has raised concerns in Morocco, where up to 50,000 call center jobs are at risk.
The New Law
Parliament approved the legislation last year, and it became effective August 11. It prohibits telemarketing calls without prior consumer consent, replacing an opt-out system that authorities say was frequently ignored. Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud, stated that consent can be withdrawn at any time. Consumer groups had denounced “relentless harassment” in a 2024 joint statement, and government estimates indicate around 75% of French residents receive at least one unsolicited sales call per week.
Penalties and Enforcement
Individuals making illegal calls can be fined up to €75,000 per call, while companies face fines up to €375,000. Exceptions apply for consumers who actively opt in—for example, by checking a consent box—or for firms contacting existing customers. Complaints can be filed through a government website. Last year, an Ireland-based company was fined €6 million for violating France’s previous telemarketing rules by calling numbers on the national do‑not‑call list.
Impact on Moroccan Call Centers
Morocco’s employment minister, Younes Sekkouri, told lawmakers that up to 50,000 jobs in the country’s call center sector are at risk. The industry, a major destination for French outsourcing, has drawn about $100 million in investment and generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Youssef Chraïbi, president of the Moroccan Federation for Outsourcing Services, told Le Matin that the French market historically accounts for over 80% of the sector’s income.
What's Next
The Moroccan government has not yet announced specific countermeasures, but Sekkouri has called for urgent talks with French officials. It remains unclear how many call centers will withstand the loss of French telemarketing contracts or whether similar bans will be adopted elsewhere in Europe.
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France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls with fines up to €375,000
