United News of Bangladesh

France will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls from next week under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from unwanted sales pitches and fraudulent business practices. The law, backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, will take effect on Aug. 11. Years of complaintsFor years, French consumers who wanted to avoid marketing calls had to register their phone numbers with a government-run service. Consumer groups, however, said some call centers continued to contact people despite the restrictions. Under the new law, businesses will not be allowed to call consumers for marketing purposes without getting their prior consent, said Alice Vilcot, chief of staff at the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud. Consumers will also be able to withdraw their consent at any time. The government says the law responds to years of complaints about unwanted calls. Authorities estimate that around three-quarters of people in France receive at least one unsolicited sales call every week, with many getting several more. In 2024, 11 consumer organizations jointly called for a ban, describing repeated unwanted calls to landlines and mobile phones as a regular intrusion into people's daily lives. France's parliament approved the law last year. Heavy fines for violationsIndividuals making illegal telemarketing calls could face fines of up to 75,000 euros ($87,000) for each violation, while companies could be fined up to 375,000 euros ($435,000) per call. The law includes some exceptions. Consumers can agree to receive marketing calls, such as by checking a consent box on a form. Companies can also contact existing customers with new commercial offers if they have an ongoing contractual relationship. Consumers will be able to report unwanted calls through a government website. Vilcot said an Ireland-based company was fined 6 million euros ($6.9 million) last year for violating France's previous telemarketing rules by calling people whose numbers were on the no-call list. Concerns in MoroccoFrance's new rules have raised concerns in Morocco, where the call-center industry relies heavily on the French market. Moroccan Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri said in March that between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs could be at risk in the country's call centers. He said the French market accounts for more than 80% of the sector's revenue. Other countries also restrict telemarketingGermany has had a similar ban in place since 2009, while several other countries use opt-out systems to limit unwanted marketing calls. In the United States, consumers can register their numbers with the national Do Not Call Registry. Canada also operates a Do Not Call List, while the United Kingdom has the Telephone Preference Service. In Britain, companies that call people who have opted out can face fines of up to 500,000 pounds ($670,000) per violation.