this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2023

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France bans iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels: Here’s what to know (www.washingtonpost.com)

submitted 1 year ago by mesamunefire@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 26 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Cell phones use radiation in the microwave portion of the EM spectrum. Microwave radiation is non-ionizing. The only thing microwave radiation does is heat things, which is what these regulations are meant to protect consumers from in the first place.

I hate headlines like this because they fuel harmful misinformation. How many people are gonna come away from this headline thinking their phone might give them cancer? How many of those people are going to protest against further development of wireless technology from the misinformed position that non-ionizing EM radiation (such as visible light) can somehow cause cancer?

[–] CookieJarObserver@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Actually its regulated to protect Radio equipment and guarantee that radio/mobile networks aren't jammed by it, the heating does absolutely nothing and is absolutely harmless to humans.

[–] Ocelot@lemmies.world 11 points 1 year ago

That is absolutely a valid reason to regulate EMR, as interference is totally a thing if you have too many devices using overlapping frequencies, etc.

Unfortunately, France is making a big stink for the stupid reasons instead: https://www.reuters.com/technology/why-has-france-banned-sales-apples-iphone-12-2023-09-13/

France's radiation watchdog has banned sales of Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhone 12 after tests that it said showed the smartphone breached European radiation exposure limits.

The Agence Nationale des Frequences (ANFR) said on Tuesday the model's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) - a measure of the rate of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body from a piece of equipment - was higher than legally allowed.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I was just quoting what I read on Reuters. It said something about how the phones were exposing people to a little under 6 watts per kilogram of radiation, and that the legal level (5 watts per kg) is set 10 times below the level considered safe. But I didn't see a source on that article, and I'm honestly tired of researching right now. Whatever the reason for the legal radiation levels, this article's claim that

The move has revived discussions about the potential risks of cellphone radiation, a fraught topic on which decades of scientific research remains inconclusive.

is outright lying. Decades of scientific research has yet to show any negative effects from low levels of microwave radiation. I'm getting more and more pissed at the fact that the article doesn't contain the word "microwave." It's not called cell phone radiation.

[–] Disgusted_Tadpole@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 year ago

I believe it’s not a matter of is it harmful or not ? Just that there are rules and they’re not Apple’s to change. Until governments and societies decide to change them, they must comply.

[–] Ocelot@lemmies.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I really want to see someone fund/perform an experiment, that would hopefully put any doubts to rest. It might take 10-20 years to do but it would be worth it:

Create 2 completely shielded rooms. In one of the rooms, completely blast the inside of it with 5G, 4G, All the Gs, Wi-Fi, whatever 24/7. Every single kind of EMR that anyone has doubts of. You can even include future spectrum, whatever. Run it at 3x-5x the amplitude of anything anyone could reasonably expect to come across in the world.

Now, Using only organic and living material (mice, monkeys, plants, single-celled organisms, humans, whatever): confirm which one of them has the EMR turned on. If EMR was dangerous you should obviously see some negative effects. Take as much time as necessary to confirm your findings.

THEN maybe we can stop all this nonsense and point back to the study. Except I know some people would say "You tested 300 GHz, what about 301.5 GHz!!!! That one is totally dangerous!"

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

It wouldn't work for one simple reason: the people that it would attempt to convince simply wouldn't believe it. I've seen this concept brought up in terms of NASA showing a live stream of Earth to prove it's round to flearthers.

There is more than enough evidence at this point to say conclusively that non-ionizing radiation cannot cause cancer, and is only harmful to living things because it can heat them. Anyone who believes that there isn't enough evidence at this point simply hasn't read it, and anyone who thinks that the researchers are lying would think the same about this experiment.

[–] Zima@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

that can be gamed like most a/b experiments. just keep measuring and adjust your metrics and time window until you get the results you want. doesn't matter if 99% of the time you would have reached the opposite conclusion.

[–] Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

A little late to the party. Apple already announced a patch for them.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 3 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

A regulator in France asked this week that Apple stop selling its iPhone 12 there, after it said tests found that the device emits radiation levels exceeding European restrictions, giving fresh attention to old concerns about health and cellphone usage.

Apple disputed the findings, saying the device, released in 2020, has been certified by international bodies and complies with regulations, the Associated Press reported.

The Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) said in a statement that it expects Apple to “deploy all available means to put an end to the noncompliance” and that failure to act could result in a product recall.

The move has revived discussions about the potential risks of cellphone radiation, a fraught topic on which decades of scientific research remains inconclusive.

They also say the way cellphones are used now — often with headsets or for texting or social media — reduces exposure because the phones are held at a distance from the head and body.

France’s digital minister said the iPhone 12’s radiation levels are still much lower than those that scientific studies say could harm users, and that a software update could solve the compliance issue.

The original article contains 243 words, the summary contains 191 words. Saved 21%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] Granixo@feddit.cl 2 points 1 year ago

[–] bender@insaneutopia.com 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Repost

[–] Chozo@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Same story, different outlet, not a repost.

[–] adriator@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

Took them only three years.

[–] anonymouslemmy@feddit.nl -4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

See studies on honey bees behavior with a 900 MHz transmitter. Or you see studies talking about how electromagnetic fields interfere with the calcium ions receptors in the cell, this produces oxidative stress. Seeing that after all the scientific literature written about it.

For everyone open-minded to the true a 1h long speech from the University of Melbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwyDCHf5iCY