PARIS: Apple will update the iPhone 12 in France after fears that it was emitting too much radiation.
The company will issue an update to users in the country that it said would address regulators’ concerns.
These concerns led to a temporary ban on the sale of the iPhone 12 in France, as testing revealed that its radiation levels exceeded European Union standards.
Apple, however, maintains that the iPhone 12 is safe and has successfully passed numerous tests conducted in various countries. The company attributes the issues raised by the French regulatory agency to a specific testing protocol.
The French regulatory agency responsible for testing electromagnetic waves that can be absorbed by the body reported that the iPhone 12 failed one of the two types of tests it conducted. Consequently, the French government ordered a halt to iPhone 12 sales and mandated that Apple issue a software update to rectify the problem or face a product recall.
In its statement, Apple confirmed its commitment to releasing a software update for iPhone 12 users in France to align with the protocol specified by French regulators, though it did not provide further details.
It’s worth noting that if Apple had declined to issue these updates and received no objections from other governments, the ban could potentially have been extended to all 27 European Union countries after a three-month period, as stated by European Commission spokesperson Sonya Gospodinova.
France’s digital affairs minister has pointed out that the radiation levels emitted by the iPhone 12 remain considerably lower than what scientific studies deem potentially harmful to users. Additionally, the regulatory agency’s tests do not necessarily reflect typical phone usage.
While cellphones have been classified as possible carcinogens by the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm, they fall into the same category as substances like coffee, diesel fumes, and the pesticide DDT. It’s important to note that the radiation emitted by cellphones is fundamentally different from more powerful forms of radiation, such as X-rays or ultraviolet light, and cannot directly damage DNA.
To mitigate concerns about cellphone radiation exposure, experts recommend using earphones or opting for text messaging when possible.
