Apple has announced that it will provide a software update for iPhone 12 models in France in response to concerns raised by regulators regarding radiation levels. The move comes after France suspended sales of the iPhone 12, citing breaches of radiation exposure limits discovered during tests.

While Apple disputed these findings, it agreed to issue an update to accommodate the testing methods used in France. The decision in France has sparked concerns in other European countries, prompting them to consider similar actions.

Belgium has announced its intention to conduct its own review, while Germany has stated that it is working with French authorities to find a European Union-wide solution. Italy is also expected to request that Apple upgrade the software on iPhone 12 models in the country.

The Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure is conducting its own investigation, with results expected in two weeks. France's Agence Nationale des Frequences found that the iPhone 12's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which measures the rate of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body, exceeded the legally allowed limit.

The change in French regulations in 2020 allowed for testing SAR for limbs, in addition to the head and body. The iPhone 12 failed the limb SAR tests, where the distance between the phone and body is measured at 0 mm compared to 5mm for body tests.

Apple and France's digital minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, have emphasized that there is no danger to public health from the radiation emitted by the iPhone 12. Apple stated that the concerns raised by French regulators are related to a specific testing protocol and not a safety concern, and that the device complies with emissions rules worldwide.

Barrot has given Apple two weeks to issue the software update, after which the regulatory agency will assess it and decide whether to lift the sales ban. The World Health Organization has conducted several studies on mobile phone use and has not established any adverse health effects caused by it.

With this update, Apple aims to address the concerns surrounding radiation levels in the iPhone 12 and ensure compliance with regulatory standards while assuring users of their safety.