Emailing and calling businesses in France
Can I email businesses from a list in France?
The CNIL says email prospecting of professionals (B2B) does not need prior consent, but the person must be informed and able to object, and the message must relate to their profession. Generic company addresses such as info@ or contact@ are outside these principles. Every message must identify the sender and offer a simple way to refuse more messages.
Main rules: Code des postes et des communications électroniques (article L34-5), GDPR, and Consumer Code article L223-1 for phone. A summary of the official guidance linked below, checked 2026-11-11; not legal advice.
- B2B prospecting can rely on legitimate interest when the subject relates to the person's profession. The CNIL's example is presenting software to a company's IT director.
- If the data came from third parties, make sure the person was told it could be used for prospecting and can object.
- Generic addresses of a company, such as info@ or contact@, are not subject to these principles, the CNIL says.
- Every message must show who sent it and give a simple way to refuse further messages.
- Consumers (B2C) need prior consent, except existing customers being offered similar products from the same company.
Phone calls
- The CNIL says phone prospecting rules changed on 11 August 2026: consumers must give prior consent, while professionals have the right to object and must be informed.
- B2B calls can rely on legitimate interest when the call relates to the person's profession.
Sources
- CNIL: La prospection commerciale par courrier électronique, SMS-MMS et automate d'appel, checked 2026-11-11
- CNIL: Prospection commerciale par téléphone (hors automate d'appel), checked 2026-11-11
Other countries: outreach rules by country.