Apple attempts to control the message around France's iPhone 12 RF radiation debacle

AppleInsider

France is threatening a recall of all iPhone 12 models due to concerns over radio frequency exposure, and Apple has instructed staff control messaging on the matter.

iPhone 12 on the edge of a recall

It's been a busy few days for Apple, but not just because of an iPhone 15 event. France has banned sales of iPhone 12 models and is threatening a recall over radio frequency exposure concerns.

Apple has denied that there's an RF radiation issue, but the fight isn't over yet. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has instructed tech support staff to stick to a script and not volunteer information to consumers asking about the issue.

If a customer asks about the French government's claims or a potential recall, employees are meant to reply stating that they don't have anything to share. If pressed, staff can communicate Apple products go through rigorous testing for safety.

Customers attempting to return devices can only do so if they have been purchased within the standard two-week return period.

Companies that face legal challenges, like Apple in France, often provide employees with strict guidelines on discussing the matter. The practice ensures that the message is under control and that employees aren't sharing things that may need official corrections later.

France's complaints have sparked other countries in the EU to look into iPhone 12 radio frequency exposure. Both Belgium and Germany have spoken up on the matter already.

Apple says that the iPhone 12 falls within the requirements set by the EU and is safe. Also, note that RF radiation isn't the same as ionizing radiation created from decaying radioactive materials and requires significant energy to harm humans.

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mikethemartian

You can have ionizing radiation that has nothing to with decaying radioactive materials, but those electromagnetic frequencies are on order of 10,000X and more multiples time the frequencies used in the radio band. Such as the UV radiation from the Sun that causes skin cancer.

BlueLightning

I'd be more worried about living close to a cell tower, TV or Radio broadcasting tower, or high tension power distribution cable.  In Russia and certain other countries some of the high tension cables carry up to 1 million volts.  I believe they are limited to 250,000 volts in the US, with some other countries having limits of 500,000 volts (or so I've read).  I've read claims of higher cancer rates near 500,000 to 1,000,000 volt high tension cables.  Seems to have been relatively high rates of cancer among early TV personalities (in the past, sometimes the studio and tower were within a very short distance, including one local CBS affiliate).  

Back in the 1930s to 1950s, x-ray was used to check the fit of shoes and screen visitors entering some prisons.  X-ray was also used to treat acne at the time.  Seems ill advised given what we know now (and should have known then).  Radium containing paint was used years ago on clocks.  

Have read that for ALL cell phones, it is a good idea to have the phone 2 feet away from your head.  At home, I only use land line (voice over IP) desk phones.  Several US Senators of both parties have died of rare brain cancers on the side of the head which they held a mobile or cell phone (John McCain and Ted Kennedy come to mind).  

chasm

BlueLightning said:

Have read that for ALL cell phones, it is a good idea to have the phone 2 feet away from your head.  At home, I only use land line (voice over IP) desk phones.  Several US Senators of both parties have died of rare brain cancers on the side of the head which they held a mobile or cell phone (John McCain and Ted Kennedy come to mind).  

Don’t believe everything you read. Two feet away is nutter-level nonsense.

The US government would never allow an electronic product that emits sufficient RF energy that you can’t hold it against your head.

As for Ted Kennedy, he did indeed die of brain cancer — but his tumor was discovered in 2008, one year after the iPhone came out. If you’re going to try and claim that holding an iPhone to your ear will give you a sizable tumor within a year, I’m going to have a very good laugh at your expense.

While there is certainly a reason why there is a regulatory limit for RF skin contact absorption, the iPhone has always been compliant with that standard. As are all other smartphones.