European Commission faces backlash over radio equipment update rules

On May 27, 2025, the European Commission officially closed its call for contributions regarding the regulation of software updates in reconfigurable radio equipment. The initiative is a step under the RED Directive (2014/53/EU), aiming to ensure the safety and legal compliance of radio devices such as smartphones, even after software changes. With 450 million citizens potentially affected, the stakes are high. Software updates can alter a device’s radio emissions or Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), increasing radiation exposure or causing interference with other critical systems. Ensuring safety post-update has therefore become a growing regulatory concern, according to pressure group Phonegate Alert.

Industry dominates contributions and opinions

Out of 34 official responses, 76% came from industry stakeholders, most of whom support minimal regulation or voluntary compliance. They cite innovation and economic flexibility as reasons to avoid stricter rules. Just 24% of the contributions originated from civil society groups, consumer advocates, or national bodies.

Push for stricter controls from NGOs

Groups like Phonegate Alert support the strictest option, option 4, as proposed by the Commission. This would require hardware locks on radio parameters, more rigorous testing, and transparency through a public database. Their concern centers on manufacturers using software to manipulate SAR tests, a practice that parallels Dieselgate.

France leads with preventative testing protocols

Since 2022, France’s ANFR has required mobile manufacturers to submit deactivation keys for software that could affect compliance tests, including motion and proximity sensors. So far, this level of oversight remains unique within the EU. As a result Apple was forced to stop selling Apple iPhone 12 in France that mostly, quite badly, impacted secondary mobile market in that country.

A call for transparency and democratic debate

Phonegate Alert criticizes the Commission’s opaque approach, claiming the technical nature of the consultation excluded the general public. Its president, Dr. Marc Arazi, called for a broad public debate on the health and safety implications of radio emissions and software updates in consumer electronics.