In these weeks of strong tension for the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic all over the world, people continue to proliferate fake news on 5G, with those who venture that the Covid-19 may be linked to the fifth generation internet network. In the UK, the situation has started to get out of hand.
In the past few hours, they have been brought back to the UK several vandal attacks on operators’ network infrastructures, radio base stations located in different city and rural areas. It was mainly about fire, reported around cities like Belfast, Liverpool and Birmingham.
At the same time, the are also increasing in the United Kingdom fake news about the harmful and potentially lethal effects of 5G for the human body, with what has been defined on several fronts as a real conspiracy that tends to link the epidemic that first exploded in Wuhan with 5G.
In fact, they began to be disseminated on social networks videos of partially damaged or brutally vandalized radio antennas, in which community members invited other citizens to follow suit to actively combat the spread of the epidemic.
It was not long in coming the reaction of the operators of the United Kingdom, namely Vodafone, EE, Three and O2, who publicly denounced the vandalism claiming that they are working to protect the infrastructure and offer connectivity to all customers in this period of strong emergency.
In the joint letter, operators reiterated that they did not there is no scientific evidence of a link between 5G and the Coronavirus epidemic and that acts of vandalism to the detriment of radio base stations constitute only an important economic damage to companies and individuals who rely on network services to continue their activities from home.
Below, part of the official note of the operators, in which episodes of violence against some employees are also mentioned come to repair base radio stations:
“Unfortunately, we have detected cases of vandals that set fire to mobile radio stations, damaging critical infrastructure and spreading false information that would suggest a connection between 5G and the Covid-19 pandemic. There is no scientific evidence to support this link. Not only are these invectives without foundation, but they are harmful to customers and companies that focus on the continuity of our services. This also led to acts of violence against our engineers and, in some cases, maintenance of essential networks was prevented. Please help us end these actions. If you witness violent actions against our employees, please report them. If you notice false information on the subject, make it known. Your help will make a difference. Thanks for your support as we work together to make our country connected. “
Even the DCMS, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, condemned the episodes of these days, with a tweet in which he informs that those responsible for these criminal acts will face the legal consequences of their actions.
As GSMA reports, the association representing the interests of mobile operators around the world, counter-terrorism authorities and the police are investigating the events that have taken place in recent days, in order to trace the culprits. The Association severely condemned the acts of violence in a time of crisis, which interfere with the vision of the operators of “unlock the full potential of connectivity to thrive citizens, industries and the whole society. “
To combat these episodes, according to GSMA, it is necessary, however, to start from the correct information and monitoring of fake news. So they have been all Governments invited to take suitable countermeasures to preserve networks and avoid the spread of disinformation, especially in these days of crisis.
And on the fake news front, Ofcom, the United Kingdom Authority for Communications, has already moved, which has sanctioned a radio station in which a guest has been presented as a professional in the sector, connecting the 5G rollout to the spread of the virus and alerting listeners of an imminent health risk.
To know all the operators’ news in real time, you can join the MondoMobileWeb Telegram channel for free to stay informed about the world of mobile telephony.
The operators and associations, in condemning the fake news on 5G, recalled one recent response from EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakidou, which following a question confirmed that there is no scientific evidence of damage to human health.
In fact, as reported, it was not provided after the relevant opinions of the Committee no justification for revising downwards the limits of electromagnetic radiation related to 5G, as the new generation network has an exposure very similar to that currently provided for 4G, which remains well below the recommended limits.
The EU has indeed invested around 49 million euros on research projects related to electromagnetic fields, without finding obvious negative consequences for the human organism.
Despite this, fears of part of the population show no sign of diminishing. Even in Italy, more or less extravagant fake news about 5G continues to circulate and harm to human health. Furthermore, in these days of epidemic, the conspiracy hypothesis of a sordid link with the Coronavirus epidemic is also taking hold on Italian social networks.
As reported by Bufale.net5G fake news is also proliferating on Youtube, between conspiracy theories hidden by strong powers and presumed analytical links between the number of infected and the power of electromagnetic fields. In the last hours, after Facebook, Youtube has also decided to intervene and block some videos to combat disinformation.
Among the many, in fact, a video circulating these days comparing the current epidemic to the Spanish fever of 1918, claiming that even at the time human losses were to be attributed to the spread of radio waves, considered foreign agents and deeply harmful to the human organism.
Still in full swing, however, numerous groups of Stop 5G who invoke the precautionary principle to push i mayors of Italian municipalities to consider stopping the trials or installations in their territories. And in fact, even in this period of national emergency, new ordinances are published by some municipalities that prohibit the installation of antennas on the municipal territory.
The most recent example is that of Municipality of Porto Torres, in which Mayor Wheeler signed the interruption order motivated yesterday with the lack of evidence on the non-health hazard. Also in this case, the Mayor said that if new authoritative studies on the lack of correlation will be published, the order will be withdrawn, but for the moment no 5G antenna can be installed on the municipal territory.
In the case in question, no reference is made to the Coronavirus, but simply to the danger of electromagnetic fields. However, the social media post of Gunter Paoli, Economic Advisor to the Conte Government, on a possible link between 5G and the Covid-19 epidemic dates back to just two weeks ago. On that occasion, Asstel had criticized the deduction, considering it absolutely without foundation.
Thanks to Alberto, Andrea, Carla, Davide, Giovanni and Simone for the reports.
To receive many news and useful tips especially on the world of telephony is possible subscribe for free to the Mondomobileweb channel of Telegram. If you liked this article, share it on your social networks and follow MondoMobileWeb on Facebook, Instagram is Twitter. Do not hesitate to share your opinions and / or experiences commenting our articles.
