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Euro proposal to ban wireless in schools without evidence

updated 02:20 pm EDT, Tue May 24, 2011

Ban would include mobile phones

Europe's Committee of Ministers has recommended placing new limits on electromagnetic emission levels. This would include banning mobile phones and other devices from classrooms and schools. The new rules would also force Wi-Fi and cell transmission tower builders to consult with local authorities and interest groups before constructing any new towers.

The Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs of The European Parliamentary Assembly (EPA), an advisory body to the Council of Europe, has issued a report titled The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment. In it, the EPA made recommendations regarding schools and the "protection of children." Specifically, it recommended to "ban all mobile phones, DECT phones or WiFi or WLAN systems from classrooms and schools, as advocated by some regional authorities, medical associations and civil society organisations."

The EPA has cited no basis for the ban, but instead has suggested it as a precautionary measure, claiming that waiting for scientific and clinical proof could lead to high health and economic costs, as was the case in the past with asbestos, leaded gasoline and tobacco.

The report also expressed concerns about baby monitors. The Council of Europe and the other bodies mentioned in the article above are not related to the European Union and do not have the capacity to legislate for the EU. [via RCRWireless]

by MacNN Staff





  1. The Vicar

    Joined: Dec 1969


    Silver lining

    Banning wireless and cell phones from classrooms would be a good thing -- just not because of concerns over radiation.

  1. testudo

    Joined: Dec 1969



    You'd think they would just ban them because they can be a distraction and annoying.

    But, no. Let's make up some science (Hey, I don't care what the tests have shown, I KNOW that emf fields harm people!)

    But we must protect the children!

  1. testudo

    Joined: Dec 1969



    And you'd think with this kind of system, they would have banned smoking wholesale over there in Europe. But, nope. And don't they know the kind of long term damage that can be done by automobiles? Ban them too!

  1. mytdave

    Joined: Dec 1969


    while you're at it...

    Ban light bulbs and appliances too, cause you know all those things generate electromagnetic fields when in operation, so they are dangerous. Then you need to work on the biggest problem of all, the sun, which produces more electromagnetic radiation than all of the electronic devices combined - we can't have that, now can we?

  1. dmwalsh568

    Joined: Dec 1969


    No Apple devices in EU schools?

    So basically this means that Apple can't sell into EU schools, not can most other manufacturers. No netbooks, no tablets, no notebooks. And every Apple device comes with WiFi - from the Mac mini to the Mac Pro, so either they go back to pencils and paper or they are stuck with desktop PCs.

    That should take care of the folks who say the US is falling behind in science education, since we at least can keep computers in the classroom....

  1. olePigeon

    Joined: Dec 1969


    List of things they need to ban...

    List of things they need to ban that have more radiation than their cell phone: pretty much [i]anything[/i] that's electric. Oh, and bananas. You get more radiation from eating a banana than you do from talking on your cell phone.

    Bunch of f**king idiots.

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