EU pursues efforts to circumvent Trump's pledges on tech rulemaking
The National Frequency Agency (ANFR) of France ordered a halt on iPhone 12 sales due to excessive electromagnetic emissions absorbed by the human body. The European Commission has since confirmed these findings and called for Apple to reduce the device's transmission power through a software update.
Apple has agreed to update the software on iPhone 12 handsets across the EU to lower the power of their radio transmitters. The update, scheduled for the coming weeks, is in line with a 2023 change made to the phones in France.
The French radiation authority ANFR reported an increase in the radiation emission level of the iPhone 12 in August 2023, which prompted the European Commission to take action. The Commission published a decision on August 19, 2022, confirming the ANFR's findings and subsequent steps.
Vice-president of the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen, has stated that she will enforce these regulations. She has also countered claims that the EU rules amounted to "censorship" by stressing that the Digital Services Act (DSA) upholds freedom of expression.
The DSA and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) are two main pieces of legislation from the EU, aimed at keeping harmful content off the internet and ensuring fair competition. The European Union will continue to enforce its tech regulations across the bloc, asserting its right to regulate the activities of tech giants wanting access to its 450 million consumers.
Apple disagrees with the French ANFR's testing approach but respects the European Commission's decision. The company released an update to correct the issue in France but did not apply it to other EU countries until the Commission's intervention.
Henna Virkkunen has also objected to her predecessor, Thierry Breton, being invited to appear before US lawmakers. In a letter addressed to US Congress, she reiterated that the DSA and DMA are EU legislation with no extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The European Union has faced criticism from some US tech companies, including threats of levies from former President Donald Trump for allegedly targeting US tech companies. However, the EU remains committed to protecting its consumers and defending democracies from manipulation campaigns aimed at undermining free and fair elections.
The European Commission has confirmed that the iPhone 12 does not meet health standards in the EU. The Commission, along with the ANFR, is working to ensure that all electronic devices sold in the EU comply with these standards, protecting the health and safety of its citizens.
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