On the day of the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple faces an unexpected problem in France. French authorities have suspended sales of the iPhone 12 due to radiation levels detected exceeding legal limits. This decision could have significant repercussions for the company and consumers.
Authority in the spotlight
The iPhone 12, one of Apple's flagship models, recently raised concerns in France due to its radiation levels. Second a report from Reuters, French authorities have asked Apple to stop sales of the iPhone 12 in the country.
The Junior Minister for the French Digital Economy, Jean-Noel Barrot, said that the ANFR, the national radiation authority, has already informed Apple of the decision to stop sales of the device after conducting tests that revealed that the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the device was higher than expected permitted by law.
iPhone 12 and Chinese bans, an apple under pressure
The move by the French authorities puts Apple in a delicate position. The company has two weeks to respond to the concerns raised. If Apple does not respond satisfactorily within this period, Minister Barrot said he is ready to order the recall of all iPhone 12s in circulation in France. He stressed that “The rule is the same for everyone, including the digital giants.”
It is the second setback in a few days for the Cupertino company. The first, China's ban on the use of Apple smartphones and foreign phones in state and government enterprises, led the company to lose 200 billion dollars of market capitalization. Nothing that can't be recovered with the sales of the next Apple mobile phone (and its technological offshoots, including smartwatches and earphones), but the reminder remains.
And it's a reminder to the entire tech industry about the importance of testing and verification. In their pursuit of innovation, companies must never compromise the safety and well-being of consumers.
