France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls - BBC News

Cold calling is coming to an end in France, with one consumer group calling the ban a "small revolution".

Image source, Pheelings Media/ Getty ImagesByJake LaphamPublished11 August 2026France has banned unsolicited telemarketing phone calls, in what a consumer group is hailing as a "small revolution" for the sales industry.

From Tuesday, unsolicited calls are prohibited for businesses in all sectors - but there are some exceptions.

Calls will only be permitted if they relate to a contract a person has already entered into or the company has obtained prior consent to be contacted for marketing.

"It cannot be stressed enough that peace and quiet is a right, and it is time to stop exposing consumers to unwanted solicitations," consumer advocacy group Que Choisir Ensemble, said in a statement.

"This observation also holds true online and on the street, which are saturated with demands to consume," group president Marie-Amandine Stévenin added.