5G misinformation

[8] A 2020 study that monitored data from Google Trends showed that searches related to coronavirus and 5G started at different times, but peaked in the same week of April 5 in six countries.

[10] A 2020 study analysing Twitter data related to tweets about 5G and COVID-19 showed that 34% of the tweeters believed in the role of 5G in the COVID-19 outbreak, while 32% denounced or mocked it.

[11] There have been conspiracy theories suggesting that the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the epicentre of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, is linked to the large number of 5G towers in the city.

Unfounded health fears have stalled the network upgrades necessary to reach faster speeds in some cities,[23] while the coronavirus pandemic has slowed sales of 5G-compatible phones.

[32] The Australian Parliament, in its inquiry into 5G technology, has noted that community confidence in 5G has been shaken by extensive misinformation, and government agencies as well as industries have stepped up to provide trustworthy information to the public.

[1] In April 2020, Twitter updated its policy on 'unverified claims that incite harmful activity' which could, among other things, lead to the damage of 5G infrastructure.