Everything About The 5G Network Conspiracy Theory And COVID-19

Telecommunication tower illustration (Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Facebook and YouTube are currently cleaning up a baseless conspiracy theory that says that the 5G network triggers the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, not a few world celebrities believe in this theory and share it with their followers on social media.

A few days ago, social media Facebook also announced that it would begin to actively remove false claims linking COVID-19 to 5G that claim to cause physical harm. Facebook's WhatsApp has also reduced the number of users who can forward messages from five times to just one time.

"We are taking aggressive steps to stop the spread of misinformation and malicious content on our platform, and connect people to accurate information about the coronavirus," a Facebook spokesperson said in an official statement as quoted by the BBC.

Meanwhile, Google's YouTube has updated its algorithm to prevent disinformation video content related to COVID-19. Despite being conceded in a viral video of 5G technology to be the cause of COVID-19, the YouTube algorithm system judged that the content did not violate its policies.

However, YouTube immediately improved its algorithm and reviewed streaming channels containing controversial content. YouTube moderators also allow the removal of video content that violates its policies.

"We have a clear policy that prohibits videos promoting baseless medical methods to prevent coronavirus in places seeking medical care, and we quickly remove videos that violate this policy when flagged for us," YouTube said.

These baseless claims about the alleged connection between 5G and COVID-19 started circulating on the internet recently, with New Agers and QAnon followers perpetuating the hoax that someone with an interest is using 5G to spread the deadly virus. The unsophisticated algorithm amplified the news and sent unsubstantiated theories to trending topics.

And it became hotly discussed after conspiracy theorist David Icke asked and answered through his YouTube channel. He claims that there is a link between 5G and this health crisis.

"If 5G continues and reaches where they want to be, human life as we know it is over. So people have to make decisions," David said in his video.

The new attack took place in the UK when mobs destroyed and burned a cell phone pole with 5G networks for receiving the hoax information. In fact, actor Woody Harrelson and singer MIA are among the celebrities and influencers who spread such hoaxes to their millions of followers on social media.

Launching with # COVID19 today, we've introduced new health panels that include information on symptoms, prevention and treatment that will appear for users who search for COVID-19 related terms. pic.twitter.com/hL7wWpyLSs

- YouTube at 🏠 (@YouTube) April 2, 2020

There is no evidence to support the theory that the 5G network causes COVID-19 or contributes to its spread. But still, internet and social media users still believe in this.

5G networks began rolling out in cities and developed countries in 2018, but were more widely adopted in 2019, the same year that the world's first emerging COVID-19 outbreak originated in Wuhan, China. As a result conspiracy theorists quickly connect the two.

People using the internet share two maps of the United States (US) showing the areas most infected with COVID-19 are also places where 5G networks have been installed. Another thing these areas have in common are metropolitan areas, which are large population centers that are more vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 and more likely to adopt earlier 5G networks.

Improvements in wireless infrastructure have also been linked to previous diseases, many claiming that wireless airwaves can cause cancer, although there is no reliable evidence to support this.