WASHINGTON-The Walt Disney Co. defended its decision to reverse a policy to stay out of the wireless business until mobile phones are proven to have no health risks.
“There certainly is a lot more information available today than back then. The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] has consistently said scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of mobile phones and wireless communications devices, and that includes children,” said Kim Kerscher, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney Internet Group. “We’ll continue to stay abreast of all these issues.”
In November 2000, on the eve of an ABC News report on mobile phones and health questions, Disney announced it would cease licensing its cartoon characters for cell-phone faceplates until there was reliable scientific evidence establishing the absence of any risk.
Disney last week announced plans to launch a family-oriented mobile virtual network operator service using Sprint Corp.’s mobile-phone network.
Government health officials in the United States and overseas say scientific research does not link cell phones to brain cancer and other maladies, but they continue to call for more research in light of studies showing genetic damage and other biological effects from phone radiation.
Some health authorities in the United Kingdom have discouraged heavy cell-phone use by children.
The Jerusalem Post today reported a new study suggesting biological effects from low-level radio-frequency radiation like that emitted by mobile phones led one lawmaker in the Knesset to recommend use of cell phones by children should be limited.
A handful of brain-cancer and class-action headset suits against mobile-phone firms and trade associations litigation are pending in the United States. The Superior Court for the District of Columbia next month is expected to rule whether to keep or toss six brain-cancer suits.
Meantime, the mobile industry was given an extension to Aug. 10 by the U.S. Supreme Court to submit a petition seeking a review of a federal appeals court ruling that remanded at least five headset lawsuits to various state courts.
