Debunking the conspiracy theories

Stuff spoke to the University of Waikato’s M R X Dentith, who wrote a book on the philosophy of conspiracy theories, to find out why they take hold.

What are the theories?

One common strand in viral theories is the baseless notion Covid-19 is a biologically engineered disease. Theories ranged from the claim it was of American origin to allegations it was generated by the Chinese government on purpose. Some claim the United Nations developed it as a form of population control. Dentith said there was no evidence for these outlandish claims.

Myth: 5G technology

One theory on Facebook in New Zealand alleges Chinese citizens were given vaccines containing a ‘‘digitised’’ virus able to be activated by 5G mobile technology, allowing governments to kill people remotely. ‘‘It uses a really wacky technological function to explain how it works,’’ Dentith says. Claims by fringe groups that 5G is dangerous are not supported by mainstream scientists, who say the radio wave band used lacks the energy to damage cells and cause cancer.

Myth: Could Tamiflu work against it?

University of Auckland associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles said it was unlikely Tamiflu could be used to treat the disease. In 2004, a research project tested the ability of 19 antiviral drugs to stop the related SARS coronavirus killing infected cells in the lab, Wiles reported. It had no effect.

Myth: Coronavirus as population control

Agenda 21 is a non-binding UN resolution that has become the focal point of Right-wing conspiracy theories arguing it is a totalitarian plot to reduce population. The opt-in resolution encourages countries to focus on sustainable development and is not a sinister depopulation plot, Dentith says.

Why do theories take hold?

Part of the reason the theories gain ground is a single grand conspiracy can be easier to grasp than the complex issues driving the outbreak, Dentith says: it can be easier to swallow a supposedly simple theory than the troubling idea the world was ill-prepared for the outbreak, due to issues such as the underfunding of health systems. More sinister are those who are scaremongering for their own ends. Dentith says a prime example of this is American farRight conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who once accused survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting of lying. Talking up the dangers gave him an opportunity to spruik the dubious health remedies on his website, Dentith says.

What is to be done?

Dentith says if a friend or family member is taken in by a conspiracy theory, ‘‘negative messaging’’ is unlikely to help. ‘‘Telling people they’re wrong really only tends to make people more certain that they’re correct.’’ Instead, it was best to steer people to more helpful and reliable sources of information, including the best methods to avoid infection.