Overview

• The French Senate has passed a bill mandating consumer consent for telemarketing calls, shifting from an 'opt-out' to an 'opt-in' system.
• The proposal, led by Senator Pierre-Jean Verzelen, addresses the inefficacy of the current Bloctel system, which only protects 10% of phone lines.
• Consumer associations strongly support the bill, as 97% of French citizens express frustration with frequent telemarketing calls.
• The bill must now pass the National Assembly to become law, potentially reducing the current volume of unwanted calls.
• Critics raise concerns over potential job losses, as telemarketing supports up to 40,000 jobs, though many are outsourced abroad.