In the discussion about excessive electromagnetic radiation in the iPhone 12, Apple contradicted the French authorities on Wednesday.
The smartphone complies with international limit values. Reviews by numerous states have confirmed this.
The French radiation regulator ANFR found that the limit values were slightly exceeded in its tests and called for a stop to sales. Apple has already been informed about this and has two weeks to react, said Jean-Noel Barrot, the minister responsible for the digital economy, to the newspaper “Le Parisien”. “If they don’t do that, I’m ready to order a recall of all iPhone 12s in circulation. The rule is the same for everyone, including the digital giants.”
Possible recall in France and rest of the EU
France will make the test results available to the other states of the European Union (EU), Barrot said. They could make similar decisions to his country. “That could trigger a snowball effect.” However, the devices are already several years old. Apple presented the latest generation of this smartphone, the iPhone 15, on Tuesday.
According to the information, ANFR tested the so-called specific absorption rate (SAR). It indicates how strongly electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by a material and thus heated. According to medical studies, excessive SAR from cell phones can promote certain types of cancer. On its website, Apple publishes the SAR for the different versions of the iPhone 12, all of which are below the limits.
The news hits the US company in difficult times: sales of its smartphones, which contribute around half of total sales, are weakening worldwide. In addition, according to insiders and media reports, China banned government employees from using iPhones in their workplaces. However, the government in Beijing rejected this on Wednesday.
China: No ban on the use of iPhones
China says it has not issued any bans on the use of Apple cell phones. “China has not introduced any laws, regulations or documents containing measures that prohibit the purchase or use of foreign smartphone brands such as Apple,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Wednesday. Recently, however, it was noticed that “many media outlets” had uncovered security gaps in connection with Apple’s best-selling iPhone, she explained, without going into more detail about the reports she mentioned.
Several media outlets had previously reported that the Chinese government was considering banning high-ranking officials in certain ministries or certain employees in state-owned companies from using iPhones. The news caused concern among some Apple investors, as the market in the world’s second-largest economy is very important for the US tech company.
China attaches great importance to information and cyber security and treats domestic and foreign companies equally, Mao Ning said. China hopes that all mobile phone companies operating in the People’s Republic abide by the applicable laws.
In NASDAQ trading, Apple shares temporarily lost 1.19 percent to $174.21.
Paris (Reuters) / (dpa-AFX)
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