5G

{{bronze}}
[[File:2019-07-21 - Vodafone 5G Standort Hattstedt - 5G Sektor0.jpg|right|thumb|165px|In short: Stay away from the giant white rectangles, and you'll be just fine. Because they will turn into Siren Heads.]]
{{technav}}{{conspiracynav}}
'''5G''' is the most recent update of the international standards dictating mobile phone network technology. The upgrades will lead to faster download speeds and improved capacity for devices, which is important given the ever-increasing number of connected devices.

Despite the scientific consensus being that 5G is safe,<ref name="icnirp"/><ref name="scientists rubbish"/><!-- insert world's biggest line of citations here --> there is a large community of people who fear that the wide-scale implementation of 5G will cause something bad to happen, ranging from a public health crisis to a [[mind control]] program like [[MKULTRA]]. Complicating the [[conspiracy theory]] matter is the [[2019-20 COVID-19 outbreak|2020 COVID-19 outbreak]], which [[Correlation does not imply causation|happened to coincide with 5G network installations in several countries, resulting in a completely wrong connection between coronavirus and 5G]].<ref name="conspiracy spread wired"/> Although adverse effects of the level described by many conspiracy loons are downright impossible, there is still some uncertainty around the possibility of smaller adverse health effects.<ref>https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/we-have-no-reason-to-believe-5g-is-safe/</ref>

==Technological overview==
:''See the more technical article on this topic at Wikipedia: {{wpl|5G||.}}''

5G is a technology standard for cellular networks, the fifth generation of this standard. The basic difference between this and {{wpl|4G||,}} its predecessor, is improved bandwidth enabling faster downloads and the ability to support more devices connected to the internet, beyond just mobile phones. In recent years, the greater usage of devices and equipment with increasing reliance on the internet have stressed existing 3G and 4G networks. However, older mobile phones predating the 5G standard will not be able to operate on 5G. Other advantages of 5G include the ability to use "beams" targeting the radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) to end users,{{efn|Someone making a call on a cell phone, for example.}} instead of having to simply blanket a wide area. This has a two-fold advantage; the ability to direct RF EMF directly to an intended user means that the same frequency can be used by multiple users at once. The other advantage actually reduces exposure to the RF EMF, as 5G does not need to blanket a wide area in order to function, the way previous generations did.<ref name="itu 5g">{{wpl|International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union (ITU)|.}} December 2019. ''[https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/5G-fifth-generation-of-mobile-technologies.aspx 5G - Fifth generation of mobile technologies]''.</ref>

===5G and its impact on human health===
The {{wpl|International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection}} (ICNIRP) laid out guidelines for exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields that limit power outputs to prevent harm. 5G operates electromagnetic fields in the 24GHz range, which is higher than existing networks that use 4GHz range. However, the 2020 regulation changes account for this by requiring peak spatial power to remain well below a point where RF EMF could inflict harm to a [[human being]] who is using a device or being in an area that has 5G coverage from a cell phone tower.<ref name="icnirp"/>

Exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields can cause harm… if you do something incredibly stupid, like try to hug a cell phone tower antenna… the vertical bars that are at the top of the tower, really high up in the air… for a long time. Then yeah, it could hurt you. The harm being heatstroke and burns to exposed tissue, again if you're exposed to an excessive amount of RF EMF by doing something incredibly stupid.<ref name="icnirp"/>

Your cell phone, and an antenna up in the air, do not pose a risk to human health.<ref name="icnirp">{{wpl|International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection}} (ICNIRP). icnirp.org. ''[https://www.icnirp.org/en/applications/5G/index.html 5G - Radiofrequency - RF EMF]''.</ref> So yeah, [[ironically]], the people who are attacking 5G towers (see {{sl|Conspiracies}} section below) are actually increasing the likelihood of harm to themselves by getting closer than intended to operational equipment. But they are still at far greater risk of harm from either falling from an aerial platform, dropping the mast on their head, or scorching themselves with their own Molotov (we will now play the world's smallest violin).

==Conspiracies==
[[File:Mainstream Media Liers 5G = Covid.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Big brain time in London: "Media Liers 5G = Covid".]]
Initially, conspiracy statements against 5G were similar to that of mobile phone signals, radio signals, and other sources of {{wpl|non-ionizing radiation||:}} it causes various [[cancer]]s, [[deep state]]. The usual sorts of things for anything new. [[InfoWars]] and [[Russia Today|Russia Today (RT)]] in particular pushed 5G conspiracies since early 2016.<ref name="bloomberg 5g">Gallagher, Ryan. ''Bloomberg''. 9 April, 2020. ''[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/covid-19-link-to-5g-technology-fueled-by-coordinated-effort 5G Virus Conspiracy Theory Fueled by Coordinated Effort]''.</ref>

===5G and COVID-19===
{{main|2019-20 COVID-19 outbreak#Unscientific 5G fears}}

====Origins====
{{main|Correlation does not imply causation}}
[[File:5G causes Coronavirus.jpeg|thumb|right|5G causes... Taco Bell?]]
On 22 January 2020, an article was published in the [[Belgian]] newspaper ''Het Laatste Nieuws'' with the headline "5G is levensgevaarlijk en niemand die het weet" ("5G is life-threatening, and no one knows it").<ref>[http://archive.is/wip/DQIvn Artikel verwijderd. Zegt weer genoeg] by @NWOforum (11:28 PM - 1 Feb 2020) ''Twitter'' (archived from 23 May 2020 07:27:28 UTC).</ref> In this article, a connection was drawn between the construction of numerous 5G cell towers around {{wpl|Wuhan||,}} [[China]] and the cluster of COVID-19 cases in said location, with 440 infected and 9 dead at the time. Adding to this, general practitioner Kris Van Kerckhoven stated, "I have not done a fact check, but it may be a link with current events”.

In a total failure of everyone in an oversight role at ''Het Laatste Nieuws'', this story was allowed to run in a regional edition of the print paper and posted to their website before being removed several hours later.<ref name="conspiracy spread wired">Temperton, James. ''Wired''. 6 April, 2020. ''[https://www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory How the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory tore through the internet]''.</ref>

Some speculate this to be the origin of the conspiracy theory tying 5G to coronavirus. Despite the paper coming to its senses pretty quick and pulling the article, it had already spread to the anti-5G community. Its removal didn't really help, because it naturally just gave "proof" that the conspiracy was afoot.<ref name="nwoforum twitter">@NWOforum. ''Twitter''. 1 February, 2020. [https://twitter.com/NWOforum/status/1223870765893857281 Tweet] [https://web.archive.org/web/20200422005243/https://twitter.com/NWOforum/status/1223870765893857281 Archived]. (Archived 22 April, 2020).</ref>{{efn|Translated, per Bing, from Dutch. "Article deleted. Says enough again."}}<ref name="conspiracy spread wired/>

====Move to mainstream====
Initially, this nonsense remained pretty self-contained within anti-5G communities, and conspiracy theorists and went largely unnoticed in the mainstream. Then everyone's favorite inept social media robots kicked in: algorithms, which propelled the conspiracy into the mainstream.<ref name="conspiracy spread wired/>

The issue became a far greater problem (even compared to the bog-standard conspiracy theories already being amplified by the social media algorithm) when numerous [[Appeal to celebrity|celebrities]] with broad reach on social media like [[Twitter]], [[Facebook]], and [[Instagram]] started talking about it; Jason Gardiner, Lucy Watston, Eamonn Holmes, Woody Harrelson, [[Robert Kennedy, Jr.|Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]], [[David Icke]], Keri Hilson, Amanda Holden, and Amir Khan all posted or made statements in support of the conspiracy. This appears to have acted like jet fuel to the fire.<ref name="conspiracy spread wired/><ref name="celeb spread beast"/> Naturally, when called out for spreading such dangerous conspiracies, they turn to our favorite "defenses" and old friend, [[Logical fallacy|logical fallacies]]: [[Just asking questions]], I haven't fact checked this and [[Willful ignorance|I'm not an expert]].<ref name="holmes questions">[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/14/eamonn-holmes-responds-to-complaints-over-handling-of-covid-19-5g-claims Eamonn Holmes responds to complaints over handling of Covid-19 5G claims: The ITV presenter says that to suggest a connection between Covid-19 and 5G ‘would be wrong and could be dangerous’] by Jim Waterson (14 April, 2020) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

Prior to the conspiracy theory, British rapper {{wpl|M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.}} was very vocal in her opposition to 5G, and tweeted a fair bit about it, complaining about telecom workers carrying out their work. One tweet asserted a connection with a "prior pandemic" and "radio waves" before making a connection between 5G and coronavirus.<ref name="celeb spread beast">Bradley, Laura. ''The Daily Beast''. 6 April, 2020. ''[https://www.thedailybeast.com/celebrities-are-spreading-a-wacky-coronavirus-5g-conspiracy-and-they-need-to-stop-4 Celebrities Are Spreading a Wacky Coronavirus 5G Conspiracy and They Need to Stop]''.</ref>

Naturally, the [[far right]] have also embraced the conspiracy theory and are pushing it, because grift and recruitment. This being the far right, [[antisemitism]] is of course involved.<ref name="far right 5g uk">Quinn, Ben. ''The Guardian''. 12 April, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/facebook-acts-to-halt-far-right-groups-linking-covid-19-to-5g Facebook acts to halt far-right groups linking Covid-19 to 5G]''.</ref>

After allowing it to fester for several weeks and become a massive problem, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter finally started to (kind of) take action against people and accounts spreading 5G-coronavirus conspiracy theories.<ref name="far right 5g uk"/><ref name="youtube david icke">Kelion, Leo. ''BBC''. 7 April, 2020. ''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52198946 Coronavirus: YouTube tightens rules after David Icke 5G interview]''.</ref><ref name="twitter ban"''BBC''>. 23 April, 2020. ''[https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52395158 Coronavirus: Twitter bans incitement to attack 5G towers]''.</ref> Nothing new for those lazy conglomerates, of course.

====Consequences====
The ramifications of this misinformation has had real consequences. The UK reported that at least 50 mobile phone towers or equipment boxes had been targeted in arson attacks in 2020. In just four days from 2 to 5 April 2020, at least 20 mobile phone masts had been set on fire or otherwise vandalized.<ref name="20 fires">Waterson, Jim. Hern, Alex. ''The Guardian''. 6 April, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/06/at-least-20-uk-phone-masts-vandalised-over-false-5g-coronavirus-claims At least 20 UK phone masts vandalised over false 5G coronavirus claims]''.</ref> In addition to destruction of property, conspiracy theorists have taken to filming and harassing telecommunication workers. In late April, Openreach reported 20 incidents of workers being abused by members of the public, who were also filming them.<ref name="wired workers"/> Workers also reported having objects thrown at them, as well as threats of violent assault and murder; some workers even took steps to try and disguise their vehicles and uniforms to avoid harassment while on the job.<ref name="bbc worker threats">''BBC''. 23 April, 2020. ''[https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-52395771 Coronavirus: 'Murder threats' to telecoms engineers over 5G]''.</ref> In typical fashion, since these people are fucking idiots, most of the workers they're harassing have no involvement with the installation or maintenance of 5G equipment.<ref name="worker harass">Waterson, Jim. ''The Guardian''. 3 April, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/03/broadband-engineers-threatened-due-to-5g-coronavirus-conspiracies Broadband engineers threatened due to 5G coronavirus conspiracies]''. </ref> Worse, the abuse has gone beyond verbal taunting and threats. One Openreach apprentice network engineer was spat on by an irate member of the public, and then fell ill with a suspected case of coronavirus.<ref name="wired workers">Temperton, James. ''Wired''. 7 May, 2020. ''[https://www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory-attacks The 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory just took a really dark turn]''.</ref>

In the Netherlands, police opened investigation into multiple arson attacks and attempted arson attacks on mobile phone towers and radio towers. The phrase "Fuck 5G" was found painted at the scene of one tower.<ref name="nl tower fires">Newmark, Zack. 'NL Times''. 11 April, 2020. ''[https://nltimes.nl/2020/04/11/five-telecom-towers-torched-possible-5g-conspiracy-arson-protest Five telecom towers torched in possible 5G-conspiracy arson protest]''.</ref>

====What is the conspiracy exactly?====
This is actually one of the bigger head scratchers of the whole thing. There isn't '''a''' conspiracy theory about 5G and coronavirus. There's more like a ''half dozen'', at least:
{{columns-list|2|
*Coronavirus is real but amplified by 5G.
*Coronavirus is fake and 5G is causing the sickness.
*Coronavirus is real and 5G is helping spread it.
*5G suppresses the {{wpl|immune system||,}} making you more susceptible to catching coronavirus.
*Coronavirus is a distraction to enable the widespread installation of 5G.
*5G causes the sickness, and the lockdowns are being done to give cover for the installation of more 5G.
*5G will activate the [[RFID]] chips in the [[vaccines]] and open the portal to the Doom Dimension, or whatever.
*Coronavirus "viruses "talk to each other" when making decisions about infecting a host", which 5G is facilitating.<ref name="fullfact daily star"/>
}}
And that's not including the other non-coronavirus related 5G conspiracy theories, which involve cancer, [[Bill Gates]], and the [[New World Order]].<ref name="conspiracy spread wired/> In fact, just like for [[QAnon#QAnon map dissection|QAnon]], a similar [[non sequitur]] tornado of a map was created (under the name "[[deep state]] mapping project") that attempted to identify and connect many of the usual subjects in the conspiracy world to 5G (such as the [[Rockefeller conspiracy theories|Rockefeller Foundation]]), as well as many oddball subjects (such as the {{wpl|War on cancer#National Cancer Act of 1971|National Cancer Act of 1971}}).<ref>[http://archive.is/mv3zG Deepstatemappingproject.com], archived on 2020 May 26</ref>

This creates a wack-a-mole problem for trying to "disprove" the theories, because the wide variety of them makes it easy to [[moving the goalposts|move the goalposts]] for theorists, while making it challenging for officials and experts to disprove theories by having too many to deal with and too many contradictory ones.<ref name="guardian spread mainstream">Waterson, Jim. Hern, Alex. ''The Guardian''. 7 April, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/07/how-false-claims-about-5g-health-risks-spread-into-the-mainstream How false claims about 5G health risks spread into the mainstream]''.</ref><ref name="fullfact daily star">''{{wpl|Full Fact}}.'' 31 March, 2020. ''[https://fullfact.org/health/5G-not-accelerating-coronavirus/ 5G is not accelerating the spread of the new coronavirus]''.</ref><ref name="conspiracy spread wired/>

Just about every organization involved with telecommunications or non-ionizing radiation has come forward to dispel these claims; even the {{wpl|International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union (ITU)}} released a statement trying to calm concerns about 5G.<ref name="ITU statement">{{wpl|International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union (ITU)|.}} ''[https://www.itu.int/en/Pages/COVID-19/5g-covid-19-statement.aspx 5G Covid-19 Statement]''.</ref><ref name="scientists rubbish">Schraer, Rachel. Lawrie, Eleanor. ''BBC''. 15 April, 2020. ''[https://www.bbc.com/news/52168096 Coronavirus: Scientists brand 5G claims 'complete rubbish']''.</ref>

===Non-coronavirus conspiracy theories===
As mentioned briefly above, coronavirus was not the origin of concerns and conspiracy about 5G; fearmongering started way back in 2016.<ref name="wired 2019">Weiss, Sabrina. ''Wired''. 12 June, 2019. ''[https://www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-health-risks-concerns 5G health risks are the internet's new favourite conspiracy theory]''.</ref>
{{columns-list|2|
* 5G Kill Grid — Apparently 5G affects cells in our bodies via Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) Activation, via its electromagnetic fields.<ref>[http://anycalculator.com/5g.html 5G Cell Kill Grid - AnyCalculator.com]</ref>{{efn|Some versions of this conspiracy theory specify high radiation soundwaves.}}
* It's killing the birds.<ref>[https://www.audubon.org/news/no-5g-radio-waves-do-not-kill-birds No, 5G Radio Waves Do Not Kill Birds] by Steve Rousseau (14 Jan, 2020) Audobon</ref><ref>[https://africacheck.org/fbcheck/no-evidence-that-5g-tech-causes-cancer-killed-birds-or-invented-in-israel/ No evidence that 5G tech causes cancer, killed birds, or invented in Israel] (11:06 | 20th August 2019 GMT) Africa Check</ref>
* The {{wpl|2018 California wildfires|California wildfires}} in November 2018 were a punishment for [[California]] failing to roll out 5G.
* Causes cancer, nosebleeds, and learning disabilities.
* Unspecified military experimentation.
* Harms "Meditation concentration" and "fogs the mind".
* It's a plan to implement a Chinese-style "[[Social Credit System (China)|social credit system]]" (even experts on China can't truly pinpoint what that entails).
* It kills bugs.
}}
<!-- ==== 5G Kill Grid ==== 
Honestly can't determine what this is and if it's worth a sub-section -->

==Actual concerns==
There are actual valid concerns with the rollout of 5G, but these are actually related to the complicated ways that frequencies and the signals on them interact with each other… You know, actual [[science]] and not made-up [[bullshit]]. So naturally, nobody's really paying much attention to these.

===Weather forecasting===
The [[NOAA|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)]], [[NASA]] and the United States Navy have all expressed concerns about the {{wpl|Federal Communications Commission||'s}} auction of the 24.25GHz to 25.25GHz band spectrum.<ref name="5g giveaway">Brodkin, Jon. ''Ars Technica''. 5 May, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/05/5g-networks-will-likely-interfere-with-us-weather-satellites-navy-warns/ 5G likely to mess with weather forecasts, but FCC auctions spectrum anyway]''</ref>

Weather forecasting makes heavy use of humidity to determine future forecasts. [[Water]] vapor emits a signal at 23.8GHz, which is used to predict future weather forecasts and developing storms.<ref name="5g giveaway"/><ref name="itu wmo nature">Witze, Alexandra. ''Nature''. 22 November, 2019. ''[https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03609-x Global 5G wireless deal threatens weather forecasts]''</ref>

NOAA's predictions about the matter are rather grim: basically a loss of 77% of data gathered via passive microwave samples, if the FCC's plan is implemented. This would dump our weather forecasting abilities back into the 1980s level of effectiveness. Communities could receive 2-3 fewer days' warning to prepare for hurricanes, and the projected storm paths may become less accurate than they currently are.<ref name="5g giveaway"/>

[[Ajit Pai]], then the chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission, told [[Congress]] that NOAA was wrong. Specifically, he cited that microwave links operating just under 23.8GHz not causing interference, a 250MHz separation between 23.8 and 24.25GHz bands and 5G being "beamforming", describing it as "sort of a rifle shot, if you will, instead of a shotgun blast of 5G spectrum."<ref name="ajit congress">Brodkin, Jon. ''Ars Technica''. 13 June, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/06/ajit-pai-says-noaa-and-nasa-are-wrong-about-5g-harming-weather-forecasts/ Ajit Pai says NOAA and NASA are wrong about 5G harming weather forecasts]''</ref>

Oh, and it gets worse: future plans call for the auctioning of more band spectra in proximity to the bands used for rain and snow (36-37GHz), atmospheric temperature (50.2-50.4GHz), and clouds (80-90GHz).<ref name="weather chaos">Miller, Eric. ''Wired''. 17 June, 2019. ''[https://www.wired.com/story/5g-networks-could-throw-weather-forecasting-into-chaos/ 5G Networks Could Throw Weather Forecasting Into Chaos]''</ref>

Additionally, the problem is global, with the {{wpl|International Telecommunication Union}} (ITU) agreeing to relaxed standards that enraged the {{wpl|World Meteorological Organization}} (WMO). These standards allow for a buffer of -33 decibels watts, until 1 September 2027, and -39 decibels afterward. This is far below the -55 decibels desired by the WMO and -42 requested by European regulators, but above the United States' -20 decibels. A joint study by NOAA and NASA indicated a minimum of -52.4 decibels was required to avoid interference with meteorological data.<ref name="itu wmo nature"/>

===Global Positioning Systems===
The Department of Defense has objected to plans by the FCC to start auctioning off {{wpl|L band|1-2GHz (L band)}} for 5G networks. It is currently being used for GPS and other military systems.{{efn|Air navigation, {{wpl|Identify friend or foe|Identification friend or foe (IFF)|,}} missile and aircraft telemetry. You know, a bunch of pretty important shit.}}<ref name="dod gps"/>

Ligado, the company vying for the band spectrum, responded, including the line "Can it really be true that our military operations are vulnerable to a 10-watt lightbulb?" However, it seems they don't understand the {{wpl|inverse-square law||.}} Even a low power signal can cause interference. Furthermore, 2011 testing discovered that GPS signals can be disrupted by transmissions on the ground.<ref name="dod gps">Gallagher, Sean. ''Ars Technica''. 11 November, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/11/dod-joins-fight-against-5g-spectrum-proposal-citing-risks-to-gps/ DOD joins fight against 5G spectrum proposal, citing risks to GPS]''</ref>

It should surprise no one that these concerns were ignored by the FCC, and the plan was approved.<ref name="dod gps approve">Brodkin, Jon. ''Ars Technica''. 20 April, 2020. ''[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/04/fcc-to-approve-5g-network-despite-military-saying-it-will-harm-gps/ FCC approves 5G network despite military saying it will harm GPS]''</ref> The Department of Defense and Department of Transportation issued a joint letter condemning the move.<ref name="dod dot statement">Erwin, Sandra. ''SpaceNews''. 18 April, 2020. ''[https://spacenews.com/dod-issues-new-rebuke-of-fccs-decision-to-allow-ligado-5g-network/ DoD issues new rebuke of FCC’s decision to allow Ligado 5G network]''</ref>

===AT&T 5G E===
So, one of the least important controversies was this nonsense where {{wpl|AT&T Mobility|AT&T}} decided that their existing 4G network was 5G.<ref name="at&t 5ge">Amadeo, Ron. ''Ars Technica''. 7 January, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/att-decides-4g-is-now-5g-starts-issues-icon-changing-software-updates/ AT&T decides 4G is now “5G,” starts issuing icon-changing software updates]''</ref> Specifically, they updated their mobile phones to change the icon indicating when a phone was in an area with 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), so it would read "5G E"; when they finally get actual 5G, the icon will read "5G+".<ref name="at&t 5ge"/> Shockingly, AT&T's competitors didn't particularly care for the [[advertisement]]s where AT&T claimed it offered 5G service that was really 4G LTE.<ref name="sprint sue at&t">Brodkin, Jon. ''Ars Technica''. 8 February, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/02/sprint-sues-att-to-stop-it-from-calling-its-4g-service-5g-e/ AT&T sued by Sprint, must defend decision to tell users that 4G is “5G E”]''</ref> In May 2020, AT&T agreed to stop using the phrase "5G Evolution" in advertisements, after the {{wpl|Better Business Bureau#National Advertising Division|National Advertising Division}} ruled against AT&T and demanded the ads be discontinued.<ref name="at&t nad"/> AT&T, however, would keep using the "5G E" icon.<ref name="at&t nad">Brodkin, Jon. ''Ars Technica''. 21 May, 2019. ''[https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/05/att-still-refuses-to-kill-misleading-5ge-network-icon-for-4g-service/ AT&T still refuses to kill misleading 5GE network icon for 4G service]''</ref>

===Health effects===
Although 5G is most certainly quite safe (if not ''incredibly'' safe), there are still some concerns. For instance, there is credible evidence that wavelengths used by even existing cell phone technologies can be harmful, but only ''in excess''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230212123257/https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ntp-temp/tr595_508.pdf NTP technical report on the toxicology and carcinogenesis studies in Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats exposed to whole-body radio frequency radiation at a frequency (900 mhz) and modulations (GSM and CDMA) used by cell phones]. National Toxicology Program, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200321210053/https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ntp-temp/tr596_508.pdf NTP technical report on the toxicology and carcinogenesis studies in B6C3F1/N mice exposed to whole-body radio frequency radiation at a frequency (1,900 mhz) and modulations (GSM AND CDMA) used by cell phones]. National Toxicology Program, 2018.</ref> It is also worth noting that other studies have also raised some concerns that the EMF radiation emitted by 5G technologies could potentially have some adverse health effects, including the alteration of gene expression, cell proliferation, and protein synthesis.<ref>Agostino Di Ciaula, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.01.011 Towards 5G communication systems: Are there health implications?] International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Volume 221, Issue 3, April 2018.</ref> However, all of this is still fairly uncertain, and if anything, most credible reviews and studies suggest that a good solution would be merely revising existing EMF exposure limits, rather than scrapping and recalling the technology as a whole.

==Huawei scandal==
[[File:The-Chinese-5G-Horse.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Unhinged political cartoon showing 5G as China's Trojan Horse.]]
{{main|Infrastructure policy of Donald Trump#Telecommunications|Infrastructure policy of Donald Trump § Telecommunications}}

5G requires massive infrastructure upgrades, something that [[China|Chinese]] company {{wpl|Huawei|Huawei Technologies Group}} and {{wpl|ZTE|ZTE Corporation}} positioned themselves to get a sizable share of the market, as two of the five main providers of 5G infrastructure components.<ref name="huawei decision"/> However, concerns were raised by the United States about the companies' ties to the [[People's Republic of China#The Communist Party|Chinese Communist Party]] and the opportunity to spy on foreign nations via their phone network equipment.<ref name="guardian role">Sabbagh, Dan. ''The Guardian''. 19 February, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/19/us-very-concerned-over-huaweis-role-in-uk-5g-network US ‘very concerned’ over Huawei’s role in UK 5G network]''.</ref> The [[Donald Trump|Trump]] administration discouraged several countries, including Canada, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and the UK, from using Huawei and ZTE in their new networks.<ref name="reuters canada>''Reuters''. 6 March, 2020. ''[https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-huawei-canada/top-u-s-envoy-presses-canada-over-huawei-role-in-5g-network-officials-idUKKBN20W31Z Top U.S. envoy presses Canada over Huawei role in 5G network: officials]''.</ref><ref name="reuters europe>Emmott, Robin. ''Reuters''. 5 February, 2019. ''[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huawei-tech-eu/u-s-warns-european-allies-not-to-use-chinese-gear-for-5g-networks-idUSKCN1PU1TG U.S. warns European allies not to use Chinese gear for 5G networks]''.</ref>

===United States===
On May 15, 2019, then-President Trump signed an executive order that banned American companies from using equipment made by firms that pose a national security risk. The order, which notably targeted Huawei and ZTE Corporation, was extended on May 13, 2020 for another year.<ref name="reuters order>Chen, Yawen. Lee, Se Young. ''Reuters''. 16 May, 2019. ''[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-huawei/china-slams-u-s-blacklisting-of-huawei-as-trade-tensions-rise-idUSKCN1SM0NR China slams U.S. blacklisting of Huawei as trade tensions rise]''.</ref><ref name="reuters extend>Shepardson, David. Freifeld, Karen. ''Reuters''. 13 May, 2020. ''[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-trump/trump-extends-us-telecom-supply-chain-order-aimed-at-huawei-zte-idUSKBN22P2KG Trump extends U.S. telecom supply chain order aimed at Huawei, ZTE]''.</ref> However, in early May 2020, the United States Department of Commerce drafted a new rule that would allow American companies to work with Huawei in standards bodies; the reason simply being that the US was being left behind in terms of the development of 5G standards.<ref name="Reuters ban end>Freifeld, Karen. Prentice, Chris. ''Reuters''. 6 May, 2020. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huawei-tech-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-drafts-rule-to-allow-huawei-and-u-s-firms-to-work-together-on-5g-standards-sources-idUSKBN22I1ZY Exclusive: U.S. drafts rule to allow Huawei and U.S. firms to work together on 5G standards - sources]''.</ref>

===United Kingdom===
British intelligence agencies disputed concerns raised to the UK government by the Trump administration about the possibility of China spying via Huawei equipment in their 5G network.<ref name="guardian spy">Sabbagh, Dan. ''The Guardian''. 14 January, 2020. ''[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/14/uk-rebuffs-us-presentation-on-huawei-security-risks UK rebuffs US presentation on Huawei security risks]''.</ref>

The UK ultimately decided to allow limited use of Huawei equipment in the country's 5G network, limiting it to 35% of the outer parts of the network, like radio masts; it additionally prohibited the company's technology from being used in the core of the network, or in areas in close proximity to military and nuclear installations.<ref name="huawei decision">Kelion, Leo. ''BBC''. 28 January, 2020. ''[https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51283059 Huawei set for limited role in UK 5G networks]''.</ref> This forced two companies to make changes to their 5G equipment, due to the fact that over 35% of their already installed equipment was made by Huawei. Mick Mulvaney said that allowing Huawei equipment into the UK 5G network would have "a direct and dramatic impact" on the US sharing intelligence with the UK.<ref name="guardian role"/>

Furthermore, there was a craze of setting fire to 5G towers, at a time when public money was not growing off trees (or masts). Criminals who believe to have become radiation scientists overnight appear to be the culprit.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52164358</ref> This has been taken up by various right-wing groups and even more [[Fun:Hippie|hippie]]-leaning type folk too — none of which have credible evidence that 5G harms human beings.

==See also==
* [[N8 State]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorist scapegoats]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Radio]]
[[Category:Radiophobia]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Categories: Conspiracy theories, Conspiracy theorist scapegoats, Internet, Radio, Radiophobia, Technology