Safety concerns have spread to Asia, and multiple parties are closely monitoring the testing report. South Korea is investigating whether the iPhone 12 radiation exceeds the standard

Source: Global TimesGlobal Times Comprehensive Report: South Korea has become the latest country to announce an investigation into the electromagnetic wave radiation issue of the iPhone 12. The South Korean Ministry of Science, Technology, Information and Communications announced on the 17th that it has requested Apple to provide relevant reports and initiate an investigation

Source: Global Times

Global Times Comprehensive Report: South Korea has become the latest country to announce an investigation into the electromagnetic wave radiation issue of the iPhone 12. The South Korean Ministry of Science, Technology, Information and Communications announced on the 17th that it has requested Apple to provide relevant reports and initiate an investigation. Since France announced a ban on selling iPhone12 due to excessive radiation levels on the 12th of this month, countries such as Belgium, Germany, and Italy have expressed concern about this matter, and some countries have started investigating. On the 18th, multiple experts told Global Times reporters that due to differences in the testing environment, it is still difficult to determine whether the iPhone 12 radiation exceeds the standard and affects health. However, doubts from multiple countries may undermine consumers' confidence in Apple's new device and affect the image of the world's first company with a market value exceeding $3 trillion.

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Is our country okay

The iPhone 12 electromagnetic wave controversy has erupted in France, is our country okay? "South Korea's" Farmers News "published an article on the 18th discussing the potential health hazards of long-term exposure to electromagnetic waves. The day before, the South Korean Ministry of Science, Technology, Information and Communications announced on its website that all mobile phones currently sold in the country comply with electromagnetic wave safety standards. However, in order to dispel public anxiety, they will conduct tests on the four iPhone 12 models they have obtained, and the test results will be released afterwards. If the results exceed the standards, the department may order Apple to make corrections and suspend its imports and sales.

On the day before Apple's autumn 2023 launch event on the 13th, the French government announced that they would ban the sale of iPhone 12 in France due to electromagnetic radiation levels exceeding EU standards. According to the announcement from the French National Frequency Administration, they simulated mobile phone contact with the human body in the laboratory and detected a limb specific absorption rate of 5.74W/kg for the iPhone 12, which is higher than the EU's upper limit of 4W/kg.

This decision by France has caused a "snowball effect" in Europe. After France, will Belgium also ban the sale of iPhone 12? "The French website" mac4ever ", which specializes in analyzing Apple products, reported in the 14th daily that relevant departments of the Belgian government have revealed that they will conduct research on the potential health risks of iPhone 12. The Belgian Institute of Postal Services and Telecommunications will be responsible for this investigation, and after the investigation results are released, they have the right to prohibit the sale of devices with a "specific absorption rate risk" in the country. Germany, Italy and other countries have also shown great concern about this, and relevant departments in both countries have stated that they will closely monitor the final test results in Belgium.

Apple's statement

South Korea's Kyonghyeongsun News reported that the "specific absorption rate" is an indicator used to measure the degree of harm caused by electromagnetic waves to the human body, calculating the electromagnetic wave energy absorbed by the human body per unit mass (per kilogram). The International Agency for Cancer Research, affiliated with the World Health Organization, classifies radio frequency electromagnetic waves as "Category 2B carcinogens" and believes that long-term exposure to excessive electromagnetic waves increases the risk of cancer.

According to Reuters 14, Apple has raised objections to the electromagnetic radiation survey results in France, stating that the iPhone 12 has already been certified by multiple international agencies and meets current radiation standards. On the 15th, Jean Noel Barrow, the French ministerial representative responsible for digital affairs, stated that Apple has promised to update the software of iPhone 12 sold in France in the coming days to comply with EU standards.

Yang Guang, Senior Chief Analyst of Omdia Telecom Strategy, stated in an interview with Global Times that radiation detection on mobile terminals is influenced by various factors such as detection conditions, detection environment, and detection scenarios. Therefore, there are many details that need to be confirmed to determine whether the radiation level of iPhone 12 exceeds the standard, which leaves a lot of room for Apple to tear apart the French test report.

On the afternoon of the 18th, a reporter from the Global Times called the Apple China technical support hotline. The staff stated that all Apple phones have been tested by relevant Chinese departments and their radiation parameters meet the requirements, so they can be used with confidence. She told reporters that she has not yet seen Apple release any relevant information on radiation issues, and suggested that reporters keep an eye on the latest updates on Apple's official website in real time.

Xiang Ligang, an expert in the communication industry and chairman of the Information Consumption Alliance, analyzed to Global Times reporters that if the radiation value of the iPhone 12 exceeds the standard, Apple may want to solve the problem through software updates, which may reduce transmission power and affect signal strength, and cannot fundamentally solve the problem.

Involved in the game between Europe and America?

Regarding the current crisis faced by the iPhone 12, the French newspaper "The Cross" analyzed that since its launch in 2020, the iPhone 12 has been at the end of its product cycle, but at this time it has encountered the embarrassment of being forced to withdraw from the French market. This is the first time in Apple's history that it has been involved in such an investigation, which has both worried Apple users and disappointed retailers. Yang Guang believes that electromagnetic radiation is sensitive to consumers due to its impact on health. If consumers file lawsuits against Apple, the problem may evolve into complex aspects.

According to the 18th daily report of South Korea's "Central Daily News", the iPhone 12 is not currently sold by Apple in South Korea, but through e-commerce platforms. On the 18th, the Korean National Daily reported that Apple's response to the French investigation was somewhat perfunctory.

Xiang Ligang stated that all new machines in the Chinese market need to pass the testing of the Information and Communication Research Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China Taier Laboratory, before they can obtain a network access license if they meet the standards. Currently, Huawei, ZTE, and others have been authorized to conduct self testing. Overall, there will be no instances of unqualified technical parameters for new machines launched in China.

The European Union has always implemented a strong regulatory policy towards large multinational corporations in the United States. Yang Guang analyzed to reporters that the test results from France and follow-up from other countries may be an opportunity to give Apple some warnings, prompting it to pay more attention to complying with EU technical standards, policy standards, and market requirements in subsequent products. Xiang Ligang also believes that the European Union has not always been "very popular" with some large companies in the United States, and this time France's "excessive radiation" may also be an opportunity to hit Apple, with a hint of a game between the United States and Europe behind it.

Experts interviewed by Global Times reporters all stated that it is currently unclear what measures the EU will take against Apple smartphones in the future. Xiang Ligang believes that although the iPhone 12 is already an old product and the overall impact on Apple is not expected to be significant, it coincides with the release of the iPhone 15, and excessive radiation will still cause some fluctuations in market psychology, causing consumers to worry that the same problem will occur with the iPhone 15.

Apple is still embroiled in new controversy. A netizen recently revealed that there were photos of "braid customer service" on Apple's official website, "suspected of insulting China". Subsequently, Apple officials claimed that the employee was an Indian and not only present on the Chinese official website. However, the topic of "how to view Apple's customer service image on the Chinese official website" once topped the hot search list. As of 7pm on the 18th, the reading volume exceeded 54.954 million. On social media, most netizens express dissatisfaction.

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