Apple to Release Updated iPhone 12 in France Amid Radiation Concerns

16 Sep, 2023

Apple to Release Updated iPhone 12 in France Amid Radiation Concerns

Apple has announced its plans to update the iPhone 12 in response to concerns raised by French regulators regarding electromagnetic radiation emissions from these devices. The decision to update the iPhone 12 in France comes after the country's authorities ordered a temporary halt to the sales of this model, originally released in 2020, due to the discovery that it exceeded permissible levels of electromagnetic wave emissions.

Jean-Noel Barrot, the Digital Minister of France, confirmed this development on Friday, emphasizing that Apple had assured him of an impending update for the iPhone 12 in the coming days. Both Apple and Minister Barrot underlined that there is no imminent risk to public health associated with the radiation emitted by these devices.

Apple clarified that the concern raised by French regulators was related to a specific testing protocol rather than any safety-related issues. The company affirmed that the iPhone 12 complies with emission regulations worldwide and pledged to issue a software update tailored to the protocol used by French regulators.

Minister Barrot had given Apple a two-week deadline to release the update for the iPhone 12, which is nearing the end of its active product lifecycle. He also mentioned that the French regulatory agency responsible for testing, the ANFR, would swiftly evaluate the update's compliance, and a decision to lift the sales ban would follow.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously conducted numerous studies in this area and has not established any adverse health effects resulting from mobile phone use.