Security News > 2023 > September > France demands Apple pull iPhone 12 due to high RF radiation levels
The Agence Nationale des Fréquences has asked Apple to withdraw iPhone 12 smartphones from the French market because the device emits radiofrequency energy that is beyond the limit permitted to be absorbed by the human body.
ANFR says it recently conducted measurements on 141 phones available on the French market by contracting an accredited laboratory, where it found that iPhone 12's SAR value for limbs is 5.74 W/kg, exceeding the 4.0 W/kg limit by 43.5%. As such, the agency demands that Apple withdraws all iPhone 12 devices from the French market and takes the required action to make them compliant with European regulations.
If Apple fails to remediate the exceeding SAR level, the agency threatens to impose a forced recall on the product, so current owners of iPhone 12 will have to return them to the vendor and receive a replacement.
"ANFR has demanded that Apple withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market, effective 12 September 2023, as measures show the specific absorption rate exceeds the set limits" - Agence Nationale des Fréquences.
Apple might be able to reduce SAR on the iPhone 12 via a software or firmware update that adjusts the phone's transmission algorithms that manage the phone's power levels during various operations, reducing the emission of radiation as required.
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