The French government has taken the unprecedented step of halting sales of Apple’s iPhone 12 due to concerns about excessive electromagnetic radiation emitted by the device. This move has sparked a heated clash between the tech giant and French regulatory authorities.
The French regulatory authority responsible for overseeing radio frequencies, ANFR, has not only suspended sales but has also called on Apple to address the radiation issue in existing iPhone 12 models. ANFR has conveyed to Apple that unless a software update can resolve the problem, the company must initiate a recall of every iPhone 12 ever sold in France.
Apple has vehemently contested ANFR’s findings, asserting that the iPhone 12 complies with relevant regulations regarding radiation levels in various jurisdictions worldwide. The company has provided lab results from both its own research and third-party sources to support its claims.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously stated that there is no evidence indicating that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by mobile phones, poses harm to humans.
The decision to suspend iPhone 12 sales in France was driven by concerns over the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which measures the rate at which the body absorbs electromagnetic energy when using a mobile device. For close-contact situations, like holding the phone or placing it in a pocket, the SAR limit is set at four watts per kilogram. ANFR found that the iPhone 12’s SAR exceeded this limit, registering at 5.74 watts per kilogram.
France has given Apple a two-week window to respond to these findings. If the company fails to adequately address the concerns, France is prepared to order a recall of all iPhone 12 devices in circulation. This rule applies universally, including to tech giants like Apple.
Furthermore, France intends to share its findings with regulatory authorities across the European Union, potentially triggering a collective response against iPhone 12 models within the trading bloc.
Interestingly, on the same day the news of the iPhone 12 sales suspension broke in France, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15. This latest model introduces a novel charging port and includes adapters to enable users to utilize their existing cables.
In another development, the Chinese foreign ministry has dismissed reports alleging that government entities had directed their personnel to discontinue the use of iPhones. China clarified that no official laws, regulations, or policies have been enacted to prohibit the use of Apple’s products.
