5G Towers and Coronavirus.

We have all heard of 5G right? The first time I heard about it was listening to a friend tell me that 5G towers in Wuhan started the Coronavirus pandemic… So, what is it really? 5G is the fifth generation of mobile internet connectivity, with ultra-low latency it will enable us to download and upload data much faster than before.1 These new superfast networks have already been installed in many UK cities with the nearest one to Exeter being situated in Plymouth with BT having committed £22 million over the next few years to faster communication in the region.2 Experts suggest 5G could have a significant impact on our lives, advancing the speed of a new digital virtual reality world.3

Rumours around internet towers have been circulating globally since construction began, so it’s important to see if there are any truths behind them. In short, there is no concrete evidence proving 5G networks can be detrimental to people’s health.4 Physicist and cancer researcher David Grimes claims: “The actual conspiracy theories are kind of rehashed from 4G and everything else before”.5 This idea supporting the findings from a 2018 study by the scientific journal Science which found false news was 70% more likely to be retweeted than true news stories.6

In April 2017, the #stop5G emerged on Twitter and has grown a global conversation on 5G with the creation of almost 200 Facebook pages and groups with rhetoric concentrating on themes of: health, environment, big government, national security, and the economy.7 A prominent postponement is the “Stop 5G” Facebook group founded by John Kuhles, a UFO researcher from the Netherlands.8 The group publishes a variety of conspiracy theories notably the outlandish the suggestion that the Californian wildfires in 2018 were punishment from the ruling classes because of the failure to provide the state with 5G.9

The latest conspiracy theories have focused around 5G and the Coronavirus, including: 5G is the real cause of the disease; 5G is exacerbating the spread of the virus; the disease is not caused by Covid-19 but that the symptoms are actually caused by 5G; and that the outbreak is a hoax enabling the government to install 5G under the cover of lockdown.10 However, despite a large number of celebrity endorsements, there is no scientific or medical evidence that 5G causes Covid-19 or that it causes any other health complications.11 Nevertheless, theories have been so prominent that the government website admonished the rumours referencing the view of scientific experts at the World Health Organisation and instead highlighting the benefits of increased network speeds for the medical profession.12

It has been argued the spread of misinformation surrounding 5G is tied to global rivalries. In May 2018, the US arm of the Russian broadcaster RT America ramped up its campaign of spreading its anti-5G campaign, calling it “an experiment on humanity”.13 Although it is unclear whether the spread of such misinformation regarding alleged health problems is a Russian political move, analysts have argued it could be an attempt to get ahead in the global race to introduce 5G.

Whatever the reason misinformation surrounding the adverse health effects of 5G has spread, it is apparent that they are unfounded. This is not to say there aren’t reasons justifiable reasons to oppose 5G not least with many opposing it simply for the disruption caused by its instillation. In a joint statement, major mobile operators EE, O2, Three and Vodafone noted the “essential connectivity to our emergency services and the NHS”14 that such networks make to UK health. A fact that should not be forgotten.

By Rose Poulton.

Bibliography

[1] Leo Kelion, ‘5G: Finally, It's Here In The UK - So What Is It?’, BBC News, (May 2019) <https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48426481> [accessed 25 January 2021]

2 Plymouth Government, ‘Ultrafast broadband coming to Plymouth’, Plymouth.Gov.UK, (May 2020) <https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/newsroom/plymouthnews/ultrafastbroadbandcomingplymouth> [accessed 13 February 2021]

3 David Roe, ‘How 5G Will Impact Augmented and Virtual Reality Use’, CMS Wire, (April 2019) <https://www.cmswire.com/digital-workplace/how-5g-will-impact-augmented-and-virtual-reality-use/> [accessed 10 February 2021]

4 Sabrina Weiss, ‘5G Health Risks Are the Internet's New Favourite Conspiracy Theory’, WIRED UK, (June 2019), <www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-health-risks-concerns> [accessed 10 January 2021]

5 Sabrina Weiss, ‘5G Health Risks Are the Internet's New Favourite Conspiracy Theory’, WIRED UK, (June 2019), <www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-health-risks-concerns> [accessed 10 January 2021]

6 Soroush Vosoughi., Deb Roy., Sinan Aral, ‘The spread of true and false news online’, Social Science, (March 2018)

<https://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6380/1146/tab-pdf> [accessed 16 February 2021]

7 Ben Decker, ‘Adversarial Narratives: A New Model for Disinformation’, Global Disinformation Index, (August 2019) <https://disinformationindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/GDI_AdversNar_Report_Screen_AW2.pdf> [accessed 15 February 2021]

8 Ben Decker, ‘Adversarial Narratives: A New Model for Disinformation’, Global Disinformation Index, (August 2019) <https://disinformationindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/GDI_AdversNar_Report_Screen_AW2.pdf> [accessed 15 February 2021]

9 Sabrina Weiss, ‘5G Health Risks Are the Internet's New Favourite Conspiracy Theory’, WIRED UK, (June 2019) <www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-health-risks-concerns> [accessed 10 January 2021]

[1]0 Grace Rahman, ‘Here’s Where Those 5G And Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories Came From’, Full Fact, (April 2020)<https://fullfact.org/online/5g-and-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-came/> [accessed 25 January 2021]

1[1] Kate Lewis, ‘5G is not accelerating the spread of the new coronavirus’, Full Fact, (March 2020), <https://fullfact.org/health/5G-not-accelerating-coronavirus/> [accessed 10 February 2021]

[1]2 GOV.UK, ‘5G And Coronavirus (COVID-19)’, Gov.UK, (May 2020) <https://www.gov.uk/guidance/5g-and-coronavirus-covid-19> [accessed 25 January 2021].

[1]3 William J. Broad, ‘Your 5G Phone Won’t Hurt. But Russia Wants You to Think Otherwise.’, New York Times, (May 2019) <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/12/science/5g-phone-safety-health-russia.html> [accessed 17 February 2021]

[1]4 Carly Page, ‘UK Mobile Networks Slam ‘Baseless’ 5G Conspiracy Theories Behind Mast Fires’, Forbes, (April 2020) <https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlypage/2020/04/06/uk-mobile-networks-slam-baseless-5g-conspiracy-theories-behind-mast-fires/?sh=27e1843d6c5d> [accessed 17 February 2021]