Why France Has Asks Apple To Stop Sale Of iPhone 12: All You Need to Know

A study found when the iPhone 12 is held in a hand or carried in a pocket, its level of electromagnetic energy absorption is higher than the EU standard.

France has asked Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12, claiming that the device emits electromagnetic radiation levels that are above European Union (EU) standards for exposure. France's radiation watchdog, Agence Nationale des Frequences (ANFR), on Tuesday, said that the model's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) – a measure of the rate of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body from a device– was higher than legally allowed.

ANFR has tested 141 cellphones and found that when the iPhone 12 is held in a hand or carried in a pocket, its level of electromagnetic energy absorption is 5.74 watts per kilogram, higher than the EU standard of 4 watts per kilogram. The agency, however, said that a software update would be enough to fix the issue as the apps, programs and other operating information running on a device affects how the hardware works.

Jean-Noel Barrot, France's minister in charge of digital issues, said that while the iPhone 12's radiations are higher than the EU's standard, they are still significantly lower than levels that scientific studies consider dangerous.

What Is SAR?