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France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls under new opt-in law
France has implemented a new law that shifts the telemarketing regulatory framework from an opt-out system to a mandatory opt-in model. Effective Tuesday, August 11, 2026, businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers for commercial purposes without their explicit, free, specific, informed, and revocable consent.
This measure replaces the previous Bloctel registry, which allowed consumers to register their numbers to avoid calls but was often bypassed by call centers. Under the new rules, consent must be obtained through a positive action, such as checking an un-ticked box on a form, and is limited to a maximum duration of one year without automatic renewal.
Exceptions to the ban include companies with existing contractual relationships contacting clients about related services, and the sale of press subscriptions. Authorized telemarketing is restricted to weekdays between 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–20:00, with a limit of four calls per month per consumer.
Violators face significant financial penalties: individuals can be fined up to 75,000 euros per illegal call, while companies can face fines of up to 375,000 euros per call. The law aims to protect consumers from harassment and fraudulent practices, though some experts warn that international platforms and AI-generated voices may still pose challenges to enforcement.
Entities
ARCEP · Bloctel · DGCCRF · Emmanuel Macron · France · French Parliament · Que Choisir Ensemble
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Deceptive commercial practices resulting from illegal contact can lead to fines of up to 1.5 million euros or 10% of turnover for companies. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Individuals making commercial calls without consent face maximum fines of 75,000 euros. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The law allows exceptions for companies contacting existing contract holders and for newspaper subscription sales. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The French Parliament approved a law in May 2025 to regulate telemarketing. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Companies must obtain free, specific, informed, and unambiguous prior consent before making commercial calls. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The French telecommunications regulator, Arcep, is investigating whether operators are sufficiently identifying call origins and combating number spoofing. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Companies making commercial calls without prior consent can be fined up to 375,000 euros per call. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Consent for telemarketing contact cannot exceed a duration of one year. www.sabado.pt