No iPhone sold in Europe truly protects users’ health
We have just written to Mr. Stéphane Séjourné (Executive Vice-President), numerous European Parliament members across key committees, national elected officials (MPs, Senators), and several government agencies. Our goal is to inform them of this systemic fraud affecting the entire industry and to demand that the European Commission, in particular, take all necessary measures and sanctions to end this industrial and health scandal.
👉 You can read the full document here [Link to PDF]
Everything is now coming to light: the European Commission itself, in its Implementing Decision of August 19, 2025 (Recital 82) regarding the Europe-wide update for the iPhone 12, officially acknowledged that Apple concealed the operation of its power regulation algorithms, rendering the iPhone 12’s control mechanisms ineffective.
According to our findings submitted to the Commission:
- For no iPhone tested by the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has Apple provided the full set of deactivation keys required to disable these sensors—preventing any independent verification.
- This also applies to the iPhone 12, for which the ANFR still refuses to release the test report since July 2022, despite a ruling by the CADA (Commission for Access to Administrative Documents) in our favor.
- It should also be noted that during the “corrective” software update for the iPhone 12, the proximity sensors were not deactivated.
Simultaneously, we have written to the Director General of the ANFR to demand the publication of the iPhone 12 test reports and, crucially, the disclosure of all information regarding these deactivation keys.
From Dieselgate to Phonegate: A few explanations
Just as in Dieselgate, where vehicles detected test conditions to artificially reduce emissions, modern smartphones integrate software mechanisms capable of modifying their RF (radio frequency) emission power in laboratory settings.
“These software programs or algorithms continue to operate during tests if they are not deactivated, giving an illusion of compliance while exposing users to higher levels in real-world conditions,” explains Dr. Marc Arazi, President of Phonegate Alert.
Why is SAR so important?
SAR dictates the device’s connectivity performance, which is key to its commercial success. In the ruthless competition between manufacturers, flawed standards are no longer enough to hide SAR levels that are far higher than those displayed. After years of “preparing” smartphones to pass regulatory tests, the truth is emerging: manufacturers use embedded software that interferes in real-time during SAR testing.
Proximity sensors: A key function under scrutiny
Among the most critical embedded software are proximity sensors. While officially intended to turn off the screen when the phone is held to the ear, they can also—and more importantly—adjust RF emission power. During tests, whether they are deactivated or not directly impacts the SAR results.
This is why, under pressure from Phonegate Alert, the ANFR has required since 2019 that manufacturers provide the software deactivation keys necessary for non-skewed SAR measurements.
“However, none of the deactivation keys have ever been transmitted by Apple to the ANFR for any iPhone, including during the iPhone 12 update. We are here to denounce the collapse of the mobile telephony control system. The ANFR and Apple have co-written a play where safety is merely a prop. Today, we demand that the curtain falls,” explains Dr. Marc Arazi, who launched the alert in 2016.
Software manipulation comparable to Dieselgate
The observed practices mirror the mechanics of Dieselgate: detecting the test protocol to artificially adjust performance. Embedded software can:
- Reduce emission power when the phone is stationary or in a test position.
- Smooth emission peaks through “time averaging” algorithms.
- Adapt power based on motion or proximity sensors.
The result: Official measurements that are well below real-world exposure values.
Beyond phones: The shadow of connected objects
Watches, headphones, bracelets, or smart glasses use the same software architectures and sensors. The same manipulations could occur there without sufficient oversight.
“We want manufacturers to stop prioritizing connectivity over public health. We demand that all telecom regulatory agencies be mandated by public authorities to end the Phonegate scandal, just as they did with Dieselgate,” concludes Marc Arazi.
