France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls for businesses in all sectors, with exceptions for calls related to existing contracts or where prior consent was given. Consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble called the change a small revolution, citing a parliamentary report that found 97% of French people are annoyed by such calls and 38% report being called daily.
The change has drawn objections from business groups, including France's direct-selling trade association, which warned of new administrative burdens requiring written, provable consent. Officials in Morocco, where call centers rely heavily on the French market, warned the restrictions could cost up to 50,000 jobs.
France joins Germany, Austria, and Italy among European countries with significant cold-call restrictions; the UK's rules remain comparatively permissive, allowing calls unless a recipient has objected or opted out via a statutory no-call list.
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