France has banned the sale of the iPhone 12 for exceeding the allowed limit of absorbed radiation in the tests it has carried out. What is the problem with this phone model? Why do they discover that now? Is it dangerous for users?
It has been one of the news that is causing the most impact these days, just after the presentation of the new iPhone 15. France has made the decision to ban sales of the iPhone 12 due to the tests carried out by the ANFR (National Radio Frequency Agency) have shown that The iPhone 12 did not exceed the requirements in one of the multiple tests to which the devices are subjected. Specifically, we are talking about the SAR (specific energy absorption index) of the extremities, limited to a maximum of 4 watts/kg but which the iPhone 12 exceeded by reaching 5,74 watts/kg.
Radiation from your cell phone does not cause cancer
Despite efforts to try to prove the opposite, there is not the slightest scientific evidence that the radiation emitted by mobile phones can cause cancer. Surely you have read news that assures that it is, not to mention the thousands of articles of zero credibility that you can find on the Internet that try to prove it. When we talk about radiation we must distinguish between ionizing radiation, which is what is emitted, for example, by X-ray machines, and non-ionizing radiation emitted by mobile phones, among many other devices. While ionizing radiation has been shown to be harmful to health, non-ionizing ones have only shown that they can increase the temperature, nothing else. One of the indirect proofs that cell phones do not cause cancer is that there has not been an increase in them since the use of cell phones began to become widespread, something that with billions of devices used daily around the world would have been impossible. hide if this had happened.
Despite this, There are very strict regulations that limit the radiation that mobile devices can emit., and that is why exhaustive tests are carried out to know the absorbed radiation through multiple tests. There are tests called "body" tests with the phone kept in a jacket pocket, or placed directly to our ear as when we talk on the phone, and "extremity" tests when we hold the phone in our hands or kept in our pocket. of the pants. Precisely these last ones, those of "extremities", have been where the French authorities have found those data that we mentioned before and that have been the cause of this ban on sales.
What has happened in France?
The questions that many users ask is how it could have taken three years to detect this problem. All manufacturers must demonstrate through tests carried out by themselves and by other independent laboratories that their devices comply with current regulations, so the iPhone 12, like all iPhones and all smartphones on the market, must have passed these evidence. Why is France now discovering this data? Because the way measurements are made has changed. Apple claims to not agree at all with the figures published by the ANFR.
The iPhone 12 is a device certified by multiple official organizations and recognized for complying with all applicable regulations and standards in the world. Apple therefore disagrees with the results of the ANFR report, but is actively collaborating with this body to demonstrate that it complies with the regulations, providing, among other things, multiple results obtained in laboratories both from Apple and from third parties independently formulated that demonstrate its compliance with regulations.
The sales ban is the least of it
The news broke just after Apple launched the new iPhone 15, and curiously just after Apple discontinued the iPhone 12, which can no longer be purchased in its online store or in official physical stores. Therefore, apart from the bad publicity, it is not an issue that can really worry the company. But it is a serious problem for two reasons: the first is that France has threatened to If Apple does not correct this problem, it will take the measure that the company has to withdraw all iPhone 12s that are already in the hands of users., so the compensation that the company would have to face would be no joke; The second reason is but if possible, and that is that France's decision will be followed by similar decisions by all the member countries of the European Union. In fact, many member countries have already announced that they are going to investigate these events in case they have to take similar measures.
The solution that Apple has taken is the most logical: collaborate with the French government in this investigation, make itself available and inform of an upcoming software update that will reduce the radiation emitted by the device so that the measurements are again within permitted ranges. Even though you do not agree with the measurements made by the French regulatory body, you cannot risk them ending up sanctioning the company. for this reason, so the best thing is to lower your ears, accept the slap received and say that it will not happen again.
Should I worry if I have an iPhone 12?
The answer is clear: No. Despite what your brother-in-law may tell you, or the video you may see on Instagram or YouTube claiming that the Apple phone can cause cancer, the reality is very different from that, so all you have to do is, at most, wait for the update to be released which is expected to arrive in the next two weeks, and continue enjoying your terminal.