Everything
If you were to listen to the news lately, you would have discovered a new conspiracy theory surrounding the controversial 5G has emerged. It is no secret that some scientists have claimed that it could lead to health problems but in a new wave of suggestions, baseless claims have also suggested it has led to the coronavirus pandemic.
Where did the claim come from?
It all begun when a Belgian newspaper titled Het Laatste Nieuws published an interview with Kris Van Kerckhoven, a general practitioner from Putte, near Antwerp, on January 22. The headline read, “5G is life-threatening, and no one knows it.” Published to the internet (which has since been deleted) and in its print edition, the simple claim erupted into a viral conspiracy theory after he said it was also linked to COVID-19. At that time, the coronavirus was yet to reach its pandemic stage and had barely left the Chinese borders.
How did it spread?
Naturally, anti-5G campaigners particularly in Dutch-speaking communities clutched onto the “research” and it spread to YouTube and Facebook groups. Not before long, celebrity power took hold and the theory was spread by the likes of boxer Amir Khan, singer Anne-Marie, actor Woody Harrelson, former Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner, pop star Keri Hilson and former Made in Chelsea star Lucy Watston, according to Wired.
Our own research found that there are claims that 5G exposure – or known as higher energy forms of EMF radiation – cause nausea, hair loss, swelling, low energy, and the list goes on. However this has been claimed for a number of technological advancements including 4G and wind farms.
What exactly does the conspirACY THEORY BELIEVE?
The thoughts from Van Kerckhoven are just a drop in the ocean of conspiracy theories linked to the coronavirus, however the five main ideas claim that, 5G is, somehow, dangerous; that 5G worsens the effects of coronavirus by weakening your immune system; that 5G outright causes coronavirus-like symptoms; that the coronavirus lockdown is being used as cover to install 5G networks; that Bill Gates had something to do with it; and, finally, that this is all an Illuminati mass-murder plot – the latter is definitely a stretch.
How long have these claims lasted?
This begun during the initial roll out of 5G with propaganda broadcaster RT attacking the infrastructure, in January 2019. By April of last year, the station claimed that children exposed to 5G suffered from cancer, nosebleeds and learning disabilities.
And we can expect as long as 5G continues to be rolled out across the globe with the promise of faster internet, these wild accusations will continue.
