France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

Starting tomorrow, 11 August, France will outlaw unsolicited telemarketing calls in what campaigners are calling one of the strongest consumer protection moves in Europe.

The ban, reported by Le Monde, means companies will no longer be allowed to ring French households out of the blue flogging everything from solar panels to dodgy investment schemes. It's a step beyond France's existing 'do not call' register, which relied on people opting out — and which telemarketers often ignored anyway.

What exactly is being banned

Under the new rules, businesses cannot cold-call consumers to sell goods or services unless the person has explicitly agreed to be contacted beforehand. The ban covers landlines and mobiles alike. Exceptions exist for certain non-commercial calls, such as political campaigns and genuine surveys, though the exact boundaries are still being clarified.

France already had Bloctel, a national opt-out list launched in 2016, but it proved about as effective as a chocolate teapot. Complaints continued to flood in, with many firms either ignoring the register or exploiting loopholes. This outright ban is meant to flip the burden: instead of consumers having to defend their peace and quiet, companies must now prove they have permission before dialling.

Why Britain is paying attention

The news has sparked lively discussion online, with more than 580 people upvoting the story on the tech forum Hacker News and over 300 weighing in with comments. Many British readers expressed weary jealousy, noting that the UK's own Telephone Preference Service has done little to stem the tide of unwanted calls about loft insulation, PPI, and accidents you definitely didn't have.

One commenter summed up the mood: 'Meanwhile we just get another form to fill in that they ignore.'

France's move could embolden consumer groups elsewhere to push for similar laws, particularly as nuisance calls have become more sophisticated with spoofed numbers and automated diallers. Whether the ban proves enforceable in practice remains to be seen — but for now, the French can look forward to quieter mealtimes.

Over to you

Have you been plagued by cold callers lately? Would you welcome a ban like this in Britain, or do you reckon the scammers would just find a way around it? Let us know in the comments.