We tested popular cellphones for radiofrequency radiation. Now the FCC is investigating.

Full text of the article that made the front page of the Chicago Tribune on 21 August 2019.

We tested popular cellphones for radiofrequency radiation. Now the FCC is investigating.

By SAM ROE, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 21 August 2019 |

The Apple iPhone 7 was set to operate at full power and secured below a tub of clear liquid, specially formulated to simulate human tissue.

With the push of a button, a robotic arm swung into action, sending a pencil-thin probe dipping into the tub. For 18 minutes, it repeatedly measured the amount of radiofrequency radiation the liquid was absorbing from the cellphone.

This test, which was paid for by the Tribune and conducted according to federal guidelines at an accredited lab, produced a surprising result: Radiofrequency radiation exposure from the iPhone 7 — one of the most popular smartphones ever sold — measured over the legal safety limit and more than double what Apple reported to federal regulators from its own testing.

The Federal Communications Commission, which is responsible for regulating phones, states on its website that if a cellphone has been approved for sale, the device “will never exceed” the maximum allowable exposure limit. But this phone, in an independent lab inspection, had done exactly that.

Schools Pushed for Tech in Every Classroom. Now Parents Are Pushing Back.

Schools spent millions of dollars on devices and programs; some question how much it’s helping

Schools pushed for tech in every classroom. Now parents are pushing back.
by Betsy Morris and  Tawnell D. Hobbs, wsj.com, Sept. 3, 2019 **

Teachers at an elementary school in Montgomery County,
Md.  Photo: Greg Kahn for the Wall Street Journal

When Baltimore County, Md., public schools began going digital five years ago, textbooks disappeared from classrooms and paper and pencils were no longer encouraged. All students from kindergarten to 12th grade would eventually get a laptop, helping the district reach the “one-to-one” ratio of one for each child that has become coveted around the country. Teaching apps and digital courses took the place of flashcards and notebooks.

Despite the investment, academic results have mostly slipped in the district of about 115,000 students.

Over the last decade, American schools embraced technology, spending millions of dollars on devices and apps, believing its disruptive power would help many children learn faster, stay in school and be more prepared for a competitive economy. Now many parents and teachers are starting to wonder if all the disruption was a good idea.

Cell Phone Testing in the U.S. and Europe: Electromagnetic Radiation: Frying More than Promised...

Electromagnetic radiation:

Frying more than promised...
by Nicolas Bérard, Journal l'Age de faire, no.144, 5 September 2019

In both the United States and Europe, a large number of mobile phones are being launched as they emit radiation that exceeds regulatory values.

The Chicago Tribune conducted the investigation. Alerted to the "Phonegate" case, this major American daily newspaper had an independent laboratory carry out SAR (specific absorption rate, depending on the waves emitted) measurements on eleven of the most popular phones on the market. Although the measurement system is not exactly the same on the other side of the Atlantic, one of the main problems is the same as in our country: regulatory measurements are made 10 or even 15 mm from the skin when, in reality, users tend to stick their mobile phones to their ears and keep them in their pockets, less than 2 mm from the body.

FCC to Investigate Cellphone Radiation Exposure:

28-min. conversation with Sam Roe, former investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune who wrote the article on cellphone testing in the U.S. (click here for link to article and radio broadcast).

FCC to Investigate Cellphone Radiation Exposure
by Michael Krasny, kqed.org, 28 August 2019

The Chicago Tribune tested 11 brand-new cellphone models
from four companies. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A Chicago Tribune investigation tested the amount of radiation exposure from cell phones and found many phones exceeded the legal safety allowed limit. The Tribune funded lab tests on various cell phone models and found the popular iPhone 7 measured more than double the radiation Apple officially reported to federal regulators. In response, the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates cell phones, says it will now conduct its own testing. Forum discusses the investigation and whether we should worry about radiation exposure.

Read the Chicago Tribune's radiation exposure test here.

Guests:
Samuel Roe, regional investigative director, Gannett

https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101873014/fcc-to-investigate-cellphone-radiation-exposure

Switzerland: The Anti-5G Poll Candidates in Bern

The Anti-5G poll candidates in Bern

Society - Activists sent a series of questions to all candidates for the Swiss Parliament to find out their position.

by Céline Garcin, ABO, Tribune de Genève, 2 September 2019 - translation

Operators continue to deploy 5G antennas, but opponents
of this new technology are not giving up. 
Image: Martial Trezzini

The Anti-5G are not giving up. While operators continue to install antennas for the deployment of this new technology in Switzerland, concerned citizens and politicians continue to fight to enforce the precautionary principle as long as all health and environmental risks are not ruled out. In August, the Swiss and Geneva groups in favor of a moratorium called on all candidates in the federal elections to find out their position on this issue. Their answers will be published on the Internet at the beginning of October.

Few studies available

"The few studies available point to unprecedented effects on insects and biodiversity," said Michèle Rivasi, a French Green MEP who was in Geneva yesterday. "Operators themselves acknowledge in their presentation that MiMo multibeam antenna technology results in radiation levels at 50 m much higher than those from conventional 3G or 4G antennas. [...] This is why it is urgent to have all the necessary biological and health impact studies available before any deployment of 5G."

Too Many Waves! Huawei, Nokia, Wiko... 17 Models of Different Brands Pinned for Excessive Radiation

We would like to see more articles in the press on this important issue, linking the cell phone tests conducted in the U.S. at the request of the Chicago Tribune with those carried out in France, the results of which were revealed thanks to the actions of Dr. Marc Arazi and the Phonegate Alert Association.  

Too many waves! The list of smartphones caught at fault

by Benjamin Douriez, 60millions-mag.com, 21 August 2019, updated 22 August 2019 - auto-translation*

Huawei, Nokia, Wiko... About fifteen models of different brands have been pinned for excessive radiation, and require updating.

iStock/Goja1

Does your smartphone emit too many waves? This is a question that many consumers should ask themselves. While regulations set a maximum level of electromagnetic radiation for mobile phones, some models have exceeded or even still exceed it.

The National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) is in charge of controls on this subject. According to our count, within a year and a half, it pinned seventeen models for non-compliance with the authorized specific absorption rate (SAR).

A too confidential list

Apple, Samsung Class Action Says Phones Emit Radiation

First class action filed against Apple and Samsung in the United States on 23 August 2019.  (Case No. 5:19-cv-05322, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California)

"The putative Apple Class Members include: “All persons who purchased an iPhone 7, 8, or X for personal or household use in the United States.”

"The possible Samsung Class Members include: “All persons who purchased a Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, or J3 for personal or household use in the United States.” "

Apple, Samsung Class Action Says Phones Emit Radiation
By Steven Cohen, topclassactions.com, 27 August 2019

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple and Samsung from consumers who claim that iPhones and Galaxy smartphones emit more radiation than is allowable by law.

Eleven plaintiffs allege that the cellphones exceed the maximum limit allowed for radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure.

“In fact, Defendants market and sell some of the most popular smartphones in the world – including Apple’s iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy phones – as emitting less RF radiation than that set by law and as being completely safe to carry and use on or in close proximity to the human body,” the Apple class action lawsuit alleges.

Lawsuit Filed against Apple, Samsung after Chicago Tribune Tests Cellphones for Radiofrequency Radiation

This article includes a 3-min. video on the subject, presented by Sam Roe, the Chicago Tribune journalist who wrote the initial article on the cell phone testing. (The article has limited access so one may not be able to view the video.)

Lawsuit filed against Apple, Samsung after Chicago Tribune tests cellphones for radiofrequency radiation
by JOE MAHR, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 29 August 2019

Video caption: A new class-action lawsuit against Apple and Samsung alleges the cellphone makers “intentionally misrepresented" the safety of the devices, citing a Chicago Tribune investigation that tested popular smartphones for radiofrequency radiation and found some results over the federal exposure limit.

A group of lawyers has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Apple and Samsung, citing a Tribune investigation that tested popular cellphones for radiofrequency radiation and found some results over the federal exposure limit. The lawsuit — filed Friday in California, Illinois and Iowa — alleges that the phone makers “intentionally misrepresented" the safety of their devices, assuring users that the phones had been adequately tested and “were safe to use on and in close proximity to their bodies.”

Phonegate Alert: [Press release] Nokia smartphone SAR: general deception suspected

After XIAOMI, a new complaint was filed in France at the Lyon Public Prosecutor's Office on 11 June 2019 against HMD GLOBAL OY (NOKIA) by the association ALERTE PHONEGATE and a new collective action launched in the context of the Phonegate case.  The owners and users of  NOKIA mobile phone models: 1 / 2.1 / 3 / 3.1 / 5 / 5.1 / 6.1 will be able to assert their rights by joining the class action launched against HMD GLOBAL OY on the platform V pour Verdict (text in French).

[Press release] Nokia smartphone SAR: general deception suspected
Equipe Phonegate, phonegatealert.org, 18 July 2019

In a new press release dated 16 July 2019, the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) published an inspection of NOKIA 6.1 (TA-1043) marketed by the Finnish manufacturer HMD GLOBAL OY, which revealed that the regulatory limits for the specific absorption rate (SAR) had been significantly exceeded at the trunk level.And ANFR to indicate:

“Measurements were made at an accredited laboratory to verify the compliance of this phone with European requirements for the SAR located “trunk”. These requirements require that terminals be assessed at a maximum distance of 5 mm and must comply with the regulatory limit value of 2 W/kg. ANFR measurements revealed values exceeding this limit.”

Phonegate: Criminal Complaint Against Chinese Smartphone Manufacturer Xiaomi

Launch of a criminal complaint in France against Xiaomi and collective action for Redmi Note 5 and Mi Mix 2S users on 15 April 2019: Thanks to V for Verdict’s digital platform, users who are victims of Xiaomi can join the collective action brought by Me Elias Bourran in a few clicks to request: reimbursement of their phone, and damages.

Phonegate: criminal complaint against Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi
Equipe Phonegate, phonegatealert.org, 15 April 2019

On behalf of “Phonegate Alert”, Me Elias Bourran, a lawyer at the Paris Bar, filed a criminal complaint with the Paris Public Prosecutor against the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Xiaomi on Monday 15 April 2019.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Mi Mix 2S, sold in France through its stores, numerous distributors (FNAC, Darty, Boulanger,…) and the four mobile telephone operators (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom), have been controlled by the French National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) and the specific absorption rate (SAR) has been observed to exceed the regulatory levels for the head and trunk respectively.