iPhone 12 sales halted in France over radiation concerns
Sales of the iPhone 12 have been halted in France following fears over radiation levels being emitted by the devices.
The Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) demanded that American tech company Apple withdraw the iPhone 12 from the market in France as of 12th September 2023. The ANFR is a surveillance authority for radio equipment and carries the responsibility for controlling the exposure of magnetic fields to the public. A recent test on the iPhone 12 showed that the limb-SAR values were above the regulated limit of 4 Watts/kg, measuring at 5.74 Watts/kg. The limb-SAR tests the level of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body when a mobile device is handheld or in a trouser pocket.
In an attempt to fix the issue, Apple is releasing a new software update for French users which, according to French minister Jean-Noёl Barrot in a statement on September 13th, should bring the device back into compliance. He continued to say that the level is more than 10 times lower than it would need to be to cause a health risk, but that Apple must still comply with the rule. If the software update does not rectify the issue, ANFR has told Apple they will have to recall all previously sold iPhone 12’s in the country.
The revelation has reignited debate about the safety of mobile phones in terms of radiation, however the World Health Organization (WHO) has previously stated that there is no current evidence to show that the low level electromagnetic fields pose any harmful risks to humans. However, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are now also looking into the issue.
