Tuesday evening the world of new technologies had its eyes on California and Cupertino. But while Tim Cook presentedthe new iPhone 15, thousands of kilometers away, it was the iPhone 12 that was at the heart of the news. A report from the national frequency agency (ANFR) ensures that the iPhone 12 emits too many waves, it must therefore correct this point within 15 days or it will be withdrawn from sale.
According to information provided by Le Parisien, the iPhone 12 would have been measured with a SAR (specific absorption rate)of 5.7 W/kg at the limb level. This is slightly more thanthe European limitation which is 4 W/kgfor the limbs, 2 W/kg for the trunk and head.
Are waves dangerous?
Information quickly circulated like wildfire, particularly on social networks. The phrase “I have the 12” arrived in the trends on X in a few hours and the subject completely pinpointed the release of the iPhone 15 in France. Funny fact of the evening, by presenting the iPhone 15, Apple is logically removing the famousiPhone 12incriminated.
This new ANFR report in any case puts the question of waves and their potential danger back on the table. Despite this tenacious urban legend, science has never found the slightest evidence of a health risk linked to waves. In its latest report on the subject (November 2022), ANSES does not highlight a causal link between exposure to waves emitted by mobile communications and effects on health.
A measurement slightly too high
Despite the measurement exceeding European standards on the iPhone 12, the minister responsible for digital transition wanted to be reassuring. Questioned Wednesday morning on this subject by Franceinfo, he assured that“People who own an iPhone 12 can use it normally. »
He recalls that the standards set by the European Union are deliberately very low, a principle of health precaution dear to France. So scientists estimate that the SAR of a phone should be 10 times more powerful than it is today to, perhaps, have a significant impact on our health.
A fairly common warning
Although this request to modify the DAS is a first for Apple, this is not the case for the ANFR. The national agency is used to this type of procedure and as Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recalled, numerous recall procedures take place every year. The ANFR's request is not exceptional in this sense, quite the contrary.
Apple should quickly change the SAR level of the iPhone 12 with an update. If Apple refuses to make this software effort, the phone would then be withdrawn from the market. A hypothesis which is still unlikely.
