France’s Apple spat risks spreading to other EU members

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Several European countries, including Belgium, Germany and Italy, are tracking French regulatory action against Apple’s iPhone 12, raising the risk of more bans over alleged violations of radiation exposure limits.

France’s national frequency agency ANFR ordered Apple on Tuesday to stop selling the 2020 iPhone 12 in stores and online after tests conducted by the regulator found the smartphone did not meet EU standards.

French Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot gave Apple a 15-day deadline to update its mobile phone software system to comply with the regulations. “If this is not done, I am prepared to order a recall of iPhone 12s in circulation,” He said Le Parisien. “The rules are the same for everyone, including the tech giants.”

French authorities notified the European Commission and other EU member states’ regulators of their decision, in line with single market rules. The action gives Paris a leading role on the issue because its decisions will apply to other countries unless someone objects.

“Currently, member states have three months to review the restrictions,” said Sonya Gospodinova, the commission’s internal market spokesperson. The commission said the restrictions would apply across the EU if no member state objects to France’s action.

Belgian Technology Minister Mathieu Michel has asked the country’s telecoms regulator to analyze the danger level of iPhones. He told TV news program RTL-Info that sales were continuing as research continued. German regulators said they were in contact with their French counterparts, Reuters reported.

Apple disputes the results of the French test. It noted that the iPhone 12 has been certified by multiple international agencies as meeting so-called specific absorption rate standards applicable to devices that emit radio frequencies.

Apple CEO Tim Cook holds iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple CEO Tim Cook holds iPhone 15 Pro Max ©Bloomberg

The incident is the latest example of European countries and Brussels taking action against Apple, the world’s largest company by market value. The group, led by Chief Executive Tim Cook, this week launched iPhone 15 models, all with universal USB-C charging ports, at the request of EU regulators.

The problems with the iPhone 12 began when ANFR discovered anomalies during regular testing of smartphones sold in France. The company’s experts randomly buy hundreds of models in stores every year and inspect them to ensure they comply with EU radiation standards.

After ANFR discovered the problem, it immediately notified Apple and asked it to fix it, but was refused, so enforcement action was launched.

Apple provided its own test results as well as some from independent labs, which it said complied with regulations. The iPhone 12 is no longer available on Apple’s online store, as its new model, the iPhone 15, was launched this week.

Smartphones emit low levels of radiation when in use, and researchers have spent decades studying their potential health effects. “To date, no adverse health effects from mobile phone use have been established,” the World Health Organization said.

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