France’s regulatory authorities have instructed Apple to cease the sale of the iPhone 12 model due to electromagnetic radiation levels surpassing the standards set by the European Union. This directive was issued after the iPhone 12 failed one of the two tests for electromagnetic waves absorption by the human body. In the absence of a software update to reconcile this issue, the French government may instigate a product recall.

Apple insists that the iPhone 12 model is safe and has achieved certification worldwide since its 2020 debut. The tech behemoth argues that the issue identified by the French government agency overseeing wireless communications frequencies relates to a specific testing protocol. Responding to the French directive, Apple proclaimed that it would roll out a software update for its French users to comply with the protocol set by French regulators.

If Apple had refused to deploy updates and no other government had objected, the French ban could have extended across all 27 EU nations after three months, as per European Commission spokesperson Sonya Gospodinova. However, France’s digital affairs minister stated that the iPhone 12’s radiation levels are significantly lower than what scientific studies deem potentially harmful to users. The radiation agency also conceded that its tests do not mirror typical phone use.

In response to the ban, Apple has contested the French radiation watchdog’s claims that the iPhone 12 violates radiation exposure limits. Apple asserted that the iPhone 12 has been certified by several international regulators as compliant. The tech giant, which recently introduced the iPhone 15 series, reported that it possesses independent third-party lab results that demonstrate its compliance with all Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) standards globally.

Apple also mentioned that it provided several lab results proving the phone’s compliance to the French agency and is contesting its findings. This situation not only impacts Apple’s business in one of its primary markets but also raises questions about the potential health risks associated with mobile phone usage. This case underscores the need for further investigation into this matter and increased transparency from tech companies about their products.