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Apple to Release iPhone Software Update in France to Address Radiation Concerns and Resume Sales

  • Apple says it will issue a software update for iPhones in France to address radiation concerns after sales were suspended.

  • France welcomed the software update and said it should allow iPhone 12 sales to resume after tests found radiation levels exceeded limits.

  • Germany and other EU countries are also looking into the issue and want an EU-wide solution. Italy plans to ask Apple for a similar software update.

  • Apple disputes the French findings, saying the iPhone 12 meets global standards, but will accommodate the specific French testing methods with the update.

  • The iPhone 12 radiation limits relate to limb tests done in France, not head/body tests used elsewhere. Experts say there are no safety risks from the radiation levels.

reuters.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Apple has urged iPhone users to update their operating systems due to a new security breach exploited by Israeli NSO's Pegasus spyware, causing concerns in Israel over potential backlash from the US.
French regulators have ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 in France due to excessive electromagnetic radiation and to fix the existing handsets, as testing revealed that the model emits more electromagnetic waves than permitted by the European standard.
The French regulatory agency (ANFR) has asked Apple to withdraw iPhone 12 smartphones from the French market due to their excessive radiofrequency energy emissions, which surpass the permitted limit for absorption by the human body.
Belgium will assess potential health risks linked to Apple's iPhone 12 following France's ban, raising the possibility of more European countries banning the model due to breaches of radiation exposure limits.
The French iPhone ban due to "radiation" concerns is based on tests showing that the iPhone 12 emits more electromagnetic radiation than permitted, but experts argue that the elevated levels are unlikely to pose any risk to users, and scientific studies confirm that smartphones do not increase cancer risk.
Apple has released a new security update for iPhones, iPads, and other devices to protect against three vulnerabilities, following a previous update released earlier this month.
France may allow Apple to sell iPhone 12s in the country again after the company addressed the electromagnetic radiation standards set by the country's regulatory agency.
Apple has announced a software fix for the iPhone 12 radiation limit issue in France, which will be included in iOS 17.1 and will reduce power when off-body on a static surface, resulting in slightly lower cellular performance in certain off-body use cases.
iOS 17.1 will allow the iPhone 12 to be legally sold in France again after it was temporarily banned due to exceeding the country's specific absorption rate (SAR) limits for on-body emissions.
The upcoming iOS 17.1 update from Apple will lower iPhone 12 radiation levels, although the off-body detection feature will be disabled only in France due to a testing protocol error.
The mixup regarding iPhone 12 radiation in France is set to be resolved with the release of iOS 17.1 by October 24, according to the national frequency agency. The software update will bring the radiation levels into compliance with regulatory limits, and it also includes new features such as a new Apple Music favoriting feature and extended AirDrop sessions.
Apple is set to release its iOS 17.1 update by October 24th, which will address radiation levels in the iPhone 12 and includes other features such as an Apple Music favorites system and support for AirDrop over the internet.