Believing in the conspiracy theory about 5G and corona virus, many 5G columns in the UK were burned by extremists

Many 5G broadcast columns in the UK have been burned after a conspiracy theory spread on social media that the towers were linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. The BBC’s report shows at least three 5G columns were burned in the past week, and police and firefighters were called in to put out the fire.

Rumors and conspiracy theories about the link between 5G deployment and the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic have spread mainly through social networks. Numerous groups on Facebook and Nextdoor, where thousands of members have repeated false and deceptive assumptions about 5G harm to humans, and sadly, it seems that many people are believing in it. those things.

Picture of a 5G broadcast column burned in the UK because it was linked to the corona virus.

A conspiracy theory says that the corona virus came from Wuhan because the city recently deployed 5G networks. And now it is spreading to other cities, which are also using 5G.

However, this mythical conspiracy theory ignores the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic is strongly attacking both countries like Iran or in Africa, where 5G has not been deployed. An obvious reason for the virus to spread in urban environments is because of the dense population here – which is why these places are often the first to deploy 5G networks.

Despite this fact, this conspiracy theory is constantly spreading, just like the development of the corona virus today. Some even harass employees who install fiber optic cables for 5G coverage, saying that when 5G is turned on, it “will kill everyone.”

While mobile networks are among the most important national infrastructure in the UK, a Facebook group has been set up to encourage people to burn 5G broadcast posts. Peter Clarke, an expert in mobile network infrastructure in the UK, discovered the group and reported it to Facebook but it was not deleted. Only when attention increased, the group was removed. However, thousands of people have received this false information and it will be very difficult to convince them into the opposite reality.

Not just Facebook, a community radio station in the UK last week also interviewed a guest who called himself a “registered nurse”, claiming that 5G will suck oxygen in people’s lungs and that 5G is related to the corona virus. The interview clip was later released on Facebook to persuade people to believe in the conspiracy theory.

There are seemingly meaningless arguments appearing on Facebook, but at the moment, it seems they are convincing enough to make some people sabotage important infrastructure. This is happening as Britain and many other countries are struggling to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

This created a double battle. While medical doctors are busy dealing with the devastating power of this contagious virus, telecom operators and social networks are also in the same fierce battle to prevent the spread of insecurity. Silly treat on internet environment.

Refer to The Verge