Radiation Row: Apple To Roll Out Update After France Bans It From Selling iPhone 12

In a big move, Apple has said it will roll out a software update for older iPhone 12 in France after it was banned from selling the device in the country for allegedly breaching radiation levels.

ANFR had asked Apple to recall every iPhone 12 model sold in France if it could not fix the radiation issue via an update.

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In a big move, Apple has said it will roll out a software update for older iPhone 12 in France after it was banned from selling the device in the country for allegedly breaching radiation levels, news agency Reuters reported on Friday. The Cupertino-based tech giant is attempting to settle a row with French radiation watchdog ANFR and resume selling the devices in France. 

The watchdog had asked Apple to recall every iPhone 12 model sold in France if it could not fix the radiation issue via an update. The watchdog had said it expected Apple "to deploy all available means to put an end to the non-compliance. However, Apple had replied by saying it provided ANFR multiple Apple and independent third-party lab results proving its compliance, as per reports. Now, the tech giant has given in and announced it will introduce an update to fix the "issue".

"We will issue a software update for users in France to accommodate the protocol used by French regulators. We look forward to iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France," Apple was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Reuters report added that the French government has welcomed Apple's decision and said the software update would be swiftly tested and should allow for sales of the relatively old model, launched in 2020, to resume.

France's move increased the likelihood of further bans on iPhones in Europe. Belgium, which said it would review potential health risks linked to the iPhone 12 in the wake of the French suspension, has also welcomed Apple's move. However, it mentioned that it would continue its own review of the device and other models.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields is harmful to humans.

It is pertinent to note that Apple had to comply with a new rule in the European Union (EU) that mandates smartphone makers to adopt a common charging connection by December 2024, in a bid to reduce waste and to save consumers' money. Apple launched the iPhone 15 lineup with a USB-C charger, making a big shift from its proprietary Lightning chargers.