Over the past week, a new origin story has been unveiled for the coronavirus: 5G. And yes, as absurd, and STUPID as it sounds, there’s hundreds, if not thousands of people who believe this conspiracy. So much so, that at least 20 mobile phone masts across the UK have been torched or vandalised since Thursday.
According to the UK government and industry sources, as reported by The Guardian, are increasingly concerned of the impact of these conspiracy theories which link the coronavirus to 5G networks.
These attacks occur in clusters around Liverpool and the West Midlands. The joke here is that these masts that people are vandalising, did not even contain 5G tech, and only damaged 3G and 4G equipment. Considering the slow rollout of 5G in the UK, this is to be expected, but come on, are people really that stupid? You’re only harming everybody, who NEEDS connectivity, especially at a time like this.
Some of the theories that surround this new conspiracy, is that 5G signals itself cause the virus, accelerates the infection, and that the coronavirus is a cover-up health issues due to the network.
This has also reached a point where social networks are meeting the UK government to discuss what they can do to stop the spread of these baseless claims about 5G. Though, the main culprit, which seems to be people sharing videos and messages on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms, will be hard to moderate. I’m sure you know at least one aunty, or uncle, sending you these kinds of messages on WhatsApp.
The UK’s Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) even had to tweet this out:
We have received several reports of criminal damage to phone masts and abuse of telecoms engineers apparently inspired by crackpot conspiracy theories circulating online. Those responsible for criminal acts will face the full force of the law.
The facts ⬇️https://t.co/QWYcc4bOEg— DCMS (@DCMS) April 5, 2020
A Crackpot Conspiracy
But of course, this thinking and conspiracy theories didn’t stop in the UK. Even celebrities around the world are advocating that this theory is in fact, true. You have the likes of UK boxer Amir Khan chiming in, Woody Harrelson, M.I.A, and more spouting out nonsense and sentiments affirming the conspiracy.
https://twitter.com/MIAuniverse/status/1242434493945982977?s=20
Woody Harrelson took to Instagram in a now deleted post, talking about a report “about the negative effects of 5G” and how the network had a role in the coronavirus pandemic.
He went on to say in the caption “though I haven’t fully vetted it I find it very interesting”. Oh I’m sure you’ve got ample time sitting on your a** at home to promote this to 2 million followers on Instagram, so at the very least, check your sources. He didn’t stop there, I mean seriously, check out his Instagram right now and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Even our Deputy Editor at PC.com got a message from a friend after an encounter with their neighbour talking about the coronavirus, saying this:
“She said it’s because of 5G. Those speeds are causing harm to the lungs. And as a Christian she believes it’s a plot for a one world order. One economy. So in the end they can create a vaccine and control the world population”
Holy sh*t, what has the world come to?
There is literally nothing backing up the claim that 5G is in anyway harmful. International radtiation watchdogs have assured 5G is safe, and these baseless theories have given rise to a new batch of idiots on the internet.
Professor Stephen Powis, the UK’s national medical director, called the theories “outrageous” and “absolute and utter rubbish.”
British Cabinet Officer Minister Michael Gove said: “That is just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well.”
MobileUK, the industry group that unites the four main mobile networks in the UK even published an open letter:
“We have experienced cases of vandals setting fire to mobile masts, disrupting critical infrastructure and spreading false information suggesting a connection between 5G and the Covid-19 pandemic,” the open letter said.
“There is no scientific evidence of any link between 5G and coronavirus.”
FullFact, an independent fact-checking charity in the UK even debunked the theory where they mentioned the “two theories given to support the 5G article claim are flawed”. This is relation to an article posted on the Daily Star, now headlined as “Coronavirus: Activists in bizarre claim 5G could be acting as ‘accelerator’ for disease”.
“The article refers to two theories to support the claim that 5G accelerates the new coronavirus. Firstly that 5G might suppress the immune system and, secondly, that viruses can communicate through radio waves. Neither of these theories is backed up by evidence. The new coronavirus is also affecting countries and regions where no 5G is present.” the report said.
Look, the only thing right now that would make all our lives harder in these trying times, is fake news. Literally, people believe almost anything that is put in front of them, and is further highlighted by the amount of dumb sh*t you get forwarded on a daily on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and basically everywhere.
The spread of misinformation leads to incidents like this, where people start messing with vital services when we’re in a pandemic, like telecommunications towers.
Don’t be an idiot. Question that aunty’s message she sent about coronavirus. Don’t simply listen to anything celebrities or “influencers” say. Just, don’t. And eventually, this will die out, just as the virus will at some point. All we can really do, is stay at home, stay healthy, and stay informed.
And by informed, I mean BY REPUTABLE, RELIABLE SOURCES, AND NOT A F***ING WHATSAPP MESSAGE.
