Live data from Hacker News

France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

lemonde.fr

51–60 of 525 posts

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#51
post #29

Automatic filtering on modern iOS has been a game changer here. Assume Android has something similar, but I can't speak highly enough of that one feature

If only it didn’t show the missed call pip for filtered calls.

I found a good solution for that - just remove the "phone" app from the home screen.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#52
"God! I only asked her to be a hooker. It's not like I wanted her to work in telesales".

I stopped picking up unsolicited unknown calls perhaps a decade ago, and nothing was lost. It was impossible, however, to convince my 99-year-old grandma to do the same; she vehemently refuses because that would be 'impolite'. It would be great to have a tech solution for this, really, but I doubt printing another law is going to help with the scammier side of this market.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If only it didn’t show the missed call pip for filtered calls.

I found a good solution for that - just remove the "phone" app from the home screen.

Yeah… I’m an old. I still make and receive phone calls pretty regularly.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#55
post #26

In the last 2-3 years, my impression is that most french numbers receive daily unsolicited phone calls. In 2026 they even started sending scammy “missing delivery” text message with your real name printed on an attached MMS picture (on a parcel to deliver), making it even more real. Related, there has been dozens of private data leaks in the last years in France

Yup, having a French number is unbearable without automatic blacklist apps. I definitely notice it when it breaks after an iOS update, is start getting multiple calls a day. For any french here with an iPhone: Begone works great and has community lists for spam numbers.

The SMS are getting out of hand too, they send you a pre-recorded MP3 in addition to the picture too. At least they don't have enough information to know I don't have a letterbox.

> Related, there has been dozens of private data leaks in the last years in France

Yeah, more and more French people are getting annoyed at it, esp. when companies always say "no worries no payment info leaked". I don't care, I can change my credit card but I can't change my personal informations.

And literally last week it's Bloctel that leaked! It's the government managed list of phone numbers that don't want to receive telemearketing calls, where anyone can add its own number to be excluded. Great idea on paper, goldmine of a data leak.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#56
Essentially useless. My country also banned them and has a "do not call" registry, doesn't stop scammers from calling my phone non-stop.

Also legally speaking all you need is "Check this box if you don't want spam" and the floodgates are open, legally.

You need telco-level detection and blocking. If a cellphone number makes 1000 calls today maybe it's not a real cellphone, is it. Block the calls.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#57
post #46
post #11

Great idea! Telemarketers have ruined the phone network for me. I haven't answered an unknown call for the past 10 years, which sometimes means I miss important ones. 99.9% of all calls are an attempt to get money, and the 0.1% that's a dentist appointment, a friend that changed numbers or whatever become collateral damage. A ban is the right idea but I wonder how they can handle it, logistically. I think there needs…

There doesn't need to be any kind of technical solution. If a telemarketer wants to sell something, they must declare the name of their company. The company name can be reported to police (or whatever authorities are going to handle this) who can then fine the telemarketers.

What if the business says 'That wasn't me?'

I mean, everyone can call anyone and name any company already.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#58

Essentially useless. My country also banned them and has a "do not call" registry, doesn't stop scammers from calling my phone non-stop. Also legally speaking all you need is "Check this box if you don't want spam" and the floodgates are open, legally. You need telco-level detection and blocking. If a cellphone number makes 1000 calls today maybe it's not a real cellphone, is it. Block the calls.

At least it gives a legal framework for prosecution.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#59
post #52

"God! I only asked her to be a hooker. It's not like I wanted her to work in telesales". I stopped picking up unsolicited unknown calls perhaps a decade ago, and nothing was lost. It was impossible, however, to convince my 99-year-old grandma to do the same; she vehemently refuses because that would be 'impolite'. It would be great to have a tech solution for this, really, but I doubt printing another law is going to…

It's funny and sad to see polite people run into scammers. I witnessed to a young man being almost unable to keep saying "no" for the 20th time to an insistent seller on a beach.

When it happens to me, they're met with silence or "GTFO" after the 3rd question. I am impolite.

Re: France to ban unsolicited telemarketing calls

#60
post #46
post #11

Great idea! Telemarketers have ruined the phone network for me. I haven't answered an unknown call for the past 10 years, which sometimes means I miss important ones. 99.9% of all calls are an attempt to get money, and the 0.1% that's a dentist appointment, a friend that changed numbers or whatever become collateral damage. A ban is the right idea but I wonder how they can handle it, logistically. I think there needs…

There doesn't need to be any kind of technical solution. If a telemarketer wants to sell something, they must declare the name of their company. The company name can be reported to police (or whatever authorities are going to handle this) who can then fine the telemarketers.

Most EU countries implemented registration of every mobile number with personal details and national id number. Yet in the same countries there exist entire office buildings with tens of people receiving salaries for spam/scam/cold calling, and they are fully anonymous?!
Post reply on HN