France has taken a bold step by banning the sale of iPhone 12 in its territory due to Concerns about the radiation emitted by this devicewhich supposedly exceeds permitted standards. Jean Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Digital Transition and Telecommunications, announced this decision, marking a milestone in the regulation of mobile technology in Europe.
The basis for this ban is found in a report by the National Frequency Agency (ANFR), which carried out exhaustive tests on 141 mobile phone models. Surprisingly, iPhone 12s were the only devices called for recall due to their high Specific Energy Absorption Rate (SAR).
In particular, it was discovered that the SAR of the iPhone 12 clearly exceeded the maximum limit of 4 Watts/kg for extremities when the phone is in the hand or in a pants pocket, reaching 5.74 W/kg.
In accordance with XatakaMinister Barrot emphasized that exceeding this limit does not necessarily imply a risk to health, but it is adopted as a preventive measure in line with the recommendations of the European regulation on mobile devices.
What should Apple do?
The ANFR has urged Apple to take immediate measures to prevent the iPhone 12 from remaining available on the market. Additionally, the company is expected to implement necessary fixes to devices already in use to ensure they meet established standards. The option of a software update has been raised as a possible solution, but will require coordination with the regulatory agency.
Minister Barrot has set a two-week deadline for Apple to respond to these concerns. In the event of a lack of response or action from the company, it has declared itself willing to order the withdrawal of all iPhone 12s that are still in circulation. This demonstrates the firmness of the French authorities in enforcing regulations, even when it comes to technology giants.