"Tired of 070 Marketing Calls"... France to Impose Million-Euro Fines Starting Next Week

Heavy Fines for Regulatory Violations

Moroccan Call Center Jobs at Risk

France will implement a complete ban on telemarketing calls without prior consent starting August 11, in order to protect consumers from unnecessary sales solicitations and fraudulent commercial activities.

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"Consumers Must Give Explicit Consent"... France Cracks Down on Marketing Calls

According to AP News on August 6 (local time), France is introducing an "opt-in" system that allows businesses to call only when a consumer has explicitly given prior consent.

Previously, people who did not want to receive marketing calls had to register their numbers on a government-operated opt-out list. Consumer groups have pointed out that some call centers ignored this list and continued to make marketing calls.

Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the French Competition Authority (DGCCRF), stated, "It is now prohibited for companies to contact consumers without prior consent," adding, "Consumers may withdraw their consent at any time."

The French government said this measure is a response to years of consumer complaints. According to authorities, about three-quarters of the French population receive at least one unwanted marketing call each week, and it is estimated that many people receive far more.

In 2024, 11 consumer organizations issued a joint statement urging legislation on the matter. They criticized “the multitude of telemarketing calls to landlines and mobile phones as a persistent form of harassment for consumers.”

Under the new law, individuals who make illegal marketing calls can be fined up to 75,000 euros (about 120 million won) per call, while companies can face fines of up to 375,000 euros (about 610 million won) per call.

However, even under the new rule, marketing calls are still permitted when a company is offering new products or services to existing customers with whom they already have a business relationship.

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French Regulation Triggers Emergency in Moroccan Call Center Industry

The measure is also having repercussions in the call center industry of neighboring countries. Younes Sekkouri, Morocco’s Minister of Employment, expressed concerns that as many as 50,000 jobs in the country’s call center sector could be at risk.

Morocco has become a major outsourcing hub for French companies due to its low labor costs and abundance of French-speaking talent. Since the French market has accounted for over 80% of industry revenue, significant impact is widely expected.

Tougher Rules on Telemarketing Spread—Germany, Netherlands, and UK Also Tightening Regulations

Meanwhile, similar telemarketing regulations are already in effect in several countries.

Among major European nations, Germany has operated a similar system since 2009, and the Netherlands has recently tightened its rules on in-person and telephone sales.

In the United Kingdom, companies that call individuals who have opted out can be fined up to 500,000 pounds (950 million won) per call.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.