copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2021-12-17): The authors of the paper, however, cherry pick studies that support their claim, and acknowledge that their findings do not prove a link between 5G and COVID-19 symptoms. The paper also underwent a biased peer review process conducted by vocal anti-5G advocates. [...] As for 5G's effect on COVID-19 infections, the World Health Organization and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, which evaluates the health risks of radiation exposure from devices like cell phones, both have issued statements dispelling this false link. [...] The authors of the paper, however, themselves acknowledge that they cherry-picked studies supporting their own theory and state that their findings do not prove any potential link between 5G and COVID-19. Though the paper was indexed in a reputable research database, this does not mean that the research is high quality or underwent an ethical and rigorous peer review process.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2022-05-27): Different misinformation narratives that imply a causal link between 5G and COVID-19 have spread on social media, some of which are contradictory. Some suggest that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G equipment causes COVID-19, while others state that 5G harms people directly and that COVID-19 is used to hide this fact. We provide a more detailed description of these narratives in Sect. 3.4, but throughout this paper, we consider all such misinformation narratives together. We use the term 5G-COVID misinformation event to refer to the entirety of all communication that imply a causal link between 5G and COVID-19, i.e., all Twitter messages, Facebook posts, news articles, and videos. In addition, we consider all real-world events such as arson attacks that are presumably a direct consequence of this misinformation to be part of the event. Since it is essentially impossible to obtain an incontrovertible proof of causality between misinformation and real-world harm, we include all events where such a causality is highly likely.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-16): According to Hanna Linderstal, chief executive of the Swedish data company Earhart Business Protection Agency, which tracks online disinformation, the first video directly linking coronavirus to 5G appeared online in early January in the form of a lecture that discussed the influence of electromagnetic radiation on pandemics. "It was really scary to look at," she said. "You start thinking, should I move to the countryside?" [...] In an effort to curb the effects of the conspiracy, authorities have been forced to step in to publicly discredit it. The World Health Organization this month denied any link between the spread of coronavirus and 5G, while the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection said that 5G signals posed no risk to human health. [...] Ms Linderstal argued that the strict lockdown was likely to be playing a part. "People are really scared but they are also really engaged," she said. "At a time of crisis, people want answers — and [5G] is a really simple answer."
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-09): Almost all of the conspiracy theory posts linking 5G to coronavirus make use of tired, debunked tropes about non-ionizing radiation, chemtrails and "deep state" plots to use vaccines to control people and remotely shut down their organs. Most of the time, such unsubstantiated and outlandish claims remain more or less hidden inside the communities that believe in them. But with coronavirus as a peg, they were always bound to go viral. "The coronavirus has created the perfect environment for this message to spread," says Josh Smith, senior researcher at Demos, a think tank. "Like many conspiracy theories, the idea that 5G is to blame for the uncertain, frightening situation we find ourselves in is a comfort. It provides an explanation, and a scapegoat, for the suffering caused by this pandemic; as well as—cruelly—suggesting a way we might stop it: take down the masts and the virus will go away." If only it were that simple. And, worryingly, the conspiracy theories themselves aren’t as simple as they first appear.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-21): Ofcom: Covid-19 5G theories are 'most common' misinformation - Published Unfounded theories linking Covid-19 to 5G technology are the most common example of online misinformation in the UK, an Ofcom survey suggests. [...] Claims 5G spreads coronavirus or weakens people’s immune systems, making them susceptible to it, have been denounced as "compete rubbish" by scientists.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-08): It all can be traced back to a strange, baseless theory that emerged in February: that 5G wireless networks caused the Covid-19 pandemic. If not that, then that 5G mysteriously hastens the transmission of the virus. [...] Celebrities like Woody Harrelson say "the negative effects of 5G" are something worth considering, when talking about coronavirus. Back in the UK, Amanda Holden, best-known as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, shared a link to a petition with her 2 million Twitter followers, calling for more attention to be paid to the idea that 5G is driving Covid-19. The petition and the tweet have been deleted, but not before The Register published this memorable report in its characteristically searing style. There are more: Keri Hilson (read more on that below), "Paper Planes" singer M.I.A., and others, have used their sizable audiences to create panic over something without evidence. The Daily Beast has done the unglamorous chore of documenting the madness. [...] There is no scientific basis connecting 5G wireless networks to Covid-19. 5G is the newest generation of wireless networks, claiming to be speedier and more efficient than past iterations. Like previous wireless networks like 3G and 4G LTE, 5G transmits via radio waves, a non-harmful part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-11-03): The belief that 5G technology was linked to the COVID-19 pandemic was upheld by 7.4% of the participants in this study, and some participants (31.3%) stated that they practiced self-isolation while 39.3% practiced home quarantine during the pandemic. Responding to the question of how worried they were about COVID-19, over 57% of the participants stated that they were either very worried or somehow worried about the disease (Table 2). During the COVID-19 lockdown in SSA, nearly half (46%) of the participants in the study attended crowded religious events and a majority (76.1%) wore a mask when going out. [...] In summary, this study demonstrated that 7.4% of adult participants associated 5G technology with the outbreak of COVID-19, especially young people, females, those living in Central African countries and participants who were unemployed at the time of this study. Public health interventions including health education strategies to address the myth that 5G was linked COVID-19 pandemic in SSA are needed and such intervention should target these participants including those who do not believe that COVID-19 pandemic will continue in their country, in order to minimize further spread of the disease in the region.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2024-03-11): For context, there are both natural and human-made sources of EMF. Natural sources of EMF include lightning and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Other human-made sources beyond Bluetooth technology include X-rays and microwave ovens. [...] This exposure limit is specified by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which is measured by the rate at which RF energy is absorbed by the body. [...] "The absorption and distribution of electromagnetic energy in the body are very complex phenomena that depend on the mass, shape, and size of the body, the orientation of the body with respect to the field vectors, and the electrical properties of both the body and the environment. Other variables that may play a substantial role in possible biological effects are those that characterize the environment (e.g. ambient temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, and body insulation) and those that characterize the individual (e.g. age, gender, activity level, debilitation, or disease)."
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-07): A conspiracy theory claiming 5G can spread the coronavirus is making the rounds on social media. The myth supposedly gained traction when a Belgian doctor linked the "dangers" of 5G technology to the virus during an interview in January. [...] Actor Woody Harrelson and singer Keri Hilson have both shared content with fans suggesting a link between 5G and COVID-19. [...] 5G radiation can’t penetrate skin, or allow a virus to penetrate skin. There is no evidence 5G radio frequencies cause or exacerbate the spread of the coronavirus.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2024-01-01): The 5G Deployment Challenge - Part 4 in a Series: A Panel Discussion on the Health and Safety Concerns about 5G 5G promises to usher in a new era of connectivity and productivity, but is it safe? Misconceptions about the health impacts of 5G abound, even some that imply the technology is associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode 4 of "The 5G Deployment Challenge" brings together a panel of industry and technology experts including David Witkowski of INGR, and William F. Hammett and Rajat Mathur of Hammett & Edison. Our panelists offer an in-depth exploration of 5G-related health concerns, and apply a scientific perspective to the question of electromagnetic safety of cell towers, wireless installations.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2021-01-04): 5G doesn’t cause COVID-19, but the rumor it does spread like a virus People’s fear of 5G technology is rational. Such technology does emit radiation, even if it’s at low levels. But 5G isn’t all that different from 4G, and it certainly doesn’t cause COVID-19 despite such rumors having spread rapidly across the globe. [...] Another explanation for why folks might associate 5G with COVID-19 is that such technology emits invisible electromagnetic waves that people fear could impact their health. "People are much more worried about things [like radiation] that they cannot see," said Starobinski.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-04-09): Suddenly, panic over 5G—the newest generation of mobile telecommunications infrastructure—and the notion that it’s the true cause of the coronavirus pandemic seems to be everywhere. In recent days there have been suspected arson attacks on mobile phone masts in Birmingham, Liverpool and Merseyside. Celebrities have pushed the idea that 5G is harmful and linked to Covid-19. The government has been forced to address the fears, with Michael Gove branding the theories "dangerous nonsense". To be clear, these theories are wrong. As you'll see from our fact checks linked throughout this article, there's no connection between 5G and coronavirus, and no evidence of any health risk from 5G. But it's not clear that simply dismissing them is the right approach. Given the upheaval the coronavirus pandemic has caused, people are understandably worried and looking for answers. And to give those answers well, we'll need to understand where these theories come from. [...] The other main theory is that Covid-19 symptoms were actually "mass injury" from 5G. Some pushing this theory also deny basic medical facts, in claiming that you can’t "catch a virus". There are, of course, multiple respiratory illnesses spread by coughs and sneezes, that are caused by viruses.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2016-03-30): There are at least two main conspiracy theories connecting 5G technologies with COVID-19 (Meese et al., 2020). One version posits that electromagnetic radiation from 5G lowers the immune system, thereby making the population more susceptible to the virus. This theory shares clear similarities with another conspiratorial claim that sustained exposure to electromagnetic fields causes cancer. However, the more prominent conspiracy theory argues that 5G directly causes COVID-19 via radiation and that the virus initiated in Wuhan, due to the city being the "initial" 5G test site. Although Wuhan was one of the first cities in China to receive 5G (Xinhua, 2019), it has not been confirmed to be the first either in China or globally. It is unclear exactly how these theories began and were so quickly propagated, but they are possibly descendants of previous conspiracies related to electromagnetic radiation and cell phones. [...] Meese, J., Frith, J., & Wilken, R. (2020). COVID-19, 5G conspiracies and infrastructural futures. Media International Australia,177(1), 30–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X20952165 [...] Xinhua. (2019, May 27). Hubei sets up over 300 5G base stations. XinhuaNet News. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/27/c_138094302.htm
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2020-06-14): While baseless, the theory gained such prominence that social media platforms were forced to take action to stop its spread after a string of cell towers were set on fire. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency responded to the rumor saying, "5G technology does NOT cause coronavirus," and UK government officials called it a "crackpot conspiracy." The theory attempting to link the pandemic to 5G is nonsensical. Covid-19 is caused by a contagious virus, and it’s spreading in areas of the world that don’t yet have 5G technology. But such theories are not new; concerns about 5G’s effects on health were spreading even before coronavirus. Experts say these fears, too, are unfounded.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2024-10-09): How COVID-19 accelerated digital healthcare - My ITU [...] Monitoring the atmosphere, ocean and climate from space - My ITU [...] Here's how ICTs bring stability to an uncertain world - My ITU
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2021-03-02): Separating Facts from Fiction on COVID-19 [...] A very common myth perpetuated online is that the roll-out of 5G networks is behind the coronavirus pandemic. This is false. Conspiracy theories incorrectly linking 5G and the coronavirus pandemic are conflating the two, possibly because they are both relatively new and invisible to the human eye. 5G is simply the next generation of mobile networks and, like the current 4G networks, cannot interact with a virus. 5G uses radio waves to connect different devices and is not a vector for the coronavirus, which only survives in liquid droplets. Even more damning evidence against this myth is that the coronavirus has spread around the world, while 5G networks have not yet been deployed everywhere. Many countries that do not have any 5G networks have had large coronavirus outbreaks. There is simply no correlation between the coronavirus and 5G networks. Protecting people is the top priority of the EU, which is why EU exposure limits follow the "better safe than sorry" approach. In fact, EU exposure limits for the general public, including for 5G, are 50 times lower than what (according the available scientific evidence) might have an impact on people’s health. All 5G installations have to meet these incredibly high standards before being allowed to operate. If there was no way to use 5G without endangering the health and wellbeing of people in Europe, the EU would not have recommended its use and Member States would have banned it.
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2024-10-09): You are here ITU > Home > ITU Publications > Development (ITU-D) > publications You are here Home > ITU Publications > Development (ITU-D) > Publications on ICT Regulation, Economics and Finance > ITU Thematic Reports
Claim: “5G plays a part in this ‘plandemic’” ... The cases of COVID-19 are “directly related to electromagnetic radiation exposure by 5G” (Dee McLachlan, 2020-05-04)
Evidence (2023-01-31): Actor Woody Harrelson and singer Keri Hilson have both shared content with fans suggesting a link between 5G and COVID-19. [...] 5G radiation can’t penetrate skin, or allow a virus to penetrate skin. There is no evidence 5G radio frequencies cause or exacerbate the spread of the coronavirus. [...] Youtube has announced it will devote resources to removing content linking 5G technology to COVID-19.
Claim: CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus (Dave Mihalovic, 2019-07-25)
Evidence (2019-07-25): Polio vaccines were indeed contaminated by SV40 at a point in time, but the claim that SV40 causes cancer in humans is not supported by scientific evidence.
Claim: CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus (Dave Mihalovic, 2019-07-25)
Evidence (2014-10-03): A simian virus known as SV40 has been associated with a number of rare human cancers. This same virus contaminated the polio vaccine administered to 98 million Americans from 1955 to 1963. Federal health officials see little reason for concern. A growing cadre of medical researchers disagree [...] Others at the National Institutes of Health -- including some of the scientists who had been around at the time of the contamination scare -- were less receptive to the novel theory. They told Carbone that the last thing anyone wanted to hear was that the exalted polio vaccine was linked to cancer. Too much was at stake. Implicating a vaccine contaminant in cancer -- even if the contamination occurred some forty years ago -- might easily shake public confidence in vaccines in general. And besides, everyone knew that asbestos was the cause of mesothelioma.
Claim: CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus (Dave Mihalovic, 2019-07-25)
Evidence (2004-08-23): Polio vaccines, Simian Virus 40, and human cancer: the epidemiologic evidence for a causal association [...] In 1960, it was discovered that Simian Virus 40 (SV40) contaminated up to 30% of the poliovirus vaccines in the US. This contamination arose because the vaccines were produced in monkey kidney cell cultures harboring SV40 between 1955 and 1963. During this period, approximately 90% of children and 60% of adults in the USA were inoculated for polio and possibly exposed to SV40. Many epidemiologic and molecular pathogenesis studies have been conducted in order to identify potential cancer risks since this ‘natural’ experiment began. Productive SV40 infection has the potential to initiate malignancy in a variety of target tissues. Epidemiological studies that investigated the relationship between SV40 infection and cancer risks have yielded mixed results. Studies can be grouped into three categories based on their exposure definition of SV40 infection: (1) use of vaccination or birth cohorts as proxy variables for infection, (2) follow-up of children of pregnant women who received polio vaccines, and (3) direct molecular detection of the virus or serologic detection of anti-SV40 antibody responses. A meta-analysis of five published studies did not support the hypothesis that SV40 exposure increases the overall risk of cancer incidence or cancer mortality. [...] IOM Report (2002) Stratton K, Almario DA and McCormick M (eds). Immunization Safety Review. SV40 Contamination of Poliovaccine and Cancer. The National Academy of Sciences: Washington, DC.
Claim: CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus (Dave Mihalovic, 2019-07-25)
Evidence (2023-12-21): "CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Were Given Cancer Virus Via The Polio Shot," one headline from ushealthmagz.com told readers last weekend. The article gained popularity on Facebook pages like "Cure For Life" and "Medical Marijuana a New Beginning," with some readers suggesting that the "next time someone tells you a vaccine is mandatory tell them to kiss your ass both cheeks" and that "a friend who was a psychic healer … told me that the original polio shot had cancer in it. Most people thought he was crazy." "The CDC has admitted that between 1955–1963 over 98 million Americans received one or more doses of a polio shot," the article claims, "which was contaminated with a cancer-causing virus called Simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40)." [...] The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia noted in 2016 that "findings do not support the hypothesis that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines administered before 1963 cause cancer" and "studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963."
Claim: CDC Admits 98 Million Americans Received Polio Vaccine In An 8-Year Span When It Was Contaminated With Cancer Virus (Dave Mihalovic, 2019-07-25)
Evidence (2018-04-25): A: There are no known cases, and it’s very unlikely. In the 1950s and 1960s, people did receive polio vaccines contaminated with a virus that causes cancer in rodents. But research suggests this virus doesn’t cause cancer in humans. [...] Many of our readers have asked us whether people have developed cancer because they received the polio vaccine. Facebook users also have flagged stories on this topic as potentially false. The bottom line: It’s highly unlikely that the lots of polio vaccine contaminated in the ‘50s and ‘60s have caused anyone to develop cancer. [...] If the polio vaccine contaminated with SV40 did cause cancer, scientists would expect to see an increased risk of cancer in the population of people who received the vaccine. But just because they didn’t find this effect in the group doesn’t rule out the possibility that some select individuals did develop cancer because of the vaccine.