France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls, with hefty fines for violators
PARIS — France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practices. The law backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government entered into force Tuesday. While several countries have tried opt-out systems, France is hoping more muscular obligatory opt-in rules will…
France has enacted a new law banning unsolicited telemarketing calls, with the goal of protecting consumers from unwanted sales pitches and shielding vulnerable individuals from fraudulent practices. President Emmanuel Macron's government implemented the regulation on Tuesday, following years of consumer complaints and concerns about the effectiveness of opt-out systems in other countries.
Under the new law, businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their explicit consent, a requirement that can be withdrawn at any time. This change represents a shift from the previous system, in which French citizens needed to register their numbers with a government-run service to avoid marketing calls. According to Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Prevention of Fraud, "businesses are prohibited from contacting consumers without their prior consent," highlighting the more stringent nature of the new rules.
Authorities estimate that approximately three-quarters of the French population will be affected by these regulations, signaling the government's commitment to enhancing consumer protection and curbing fraudulent commercial practices.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
