Tele examines 5G ‘conspiracy’

CONSPIRACY theories a rou nd 5G mobi le technology, fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, are winding their way into local communities, stoking fear.

At around 10.30pm on a Saturday night in April, a fire started at the base of a phone mast in north-east Dundee.

A concerned resident in Whitfield called the fire service, who sent officers to the scene. They remained on site into the night as they waited for electrical engineers to arrive, having contained the blaze to the point it burnt itself out.

Police were made aware of the incident, but did not investigate. It is understood the fire was deemed an accident.

Despite this, a small online community of conspiracy theorists celebrated. Accident or not, a blow had been struck against what they saw as an encroaching threat on their way of life – the menace of fifth-generation

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In a group on Facebook entitled “Dundee Stop 5G & Smart Meters”, one man called the fire “great news”.

Another suggested that a wayward spark “might set fire to another one”, his comment littered with knowing emojis.

The fire damaged equipment at the base of the mast, disrupting the signal for locals well into May.

It may have also caused problems for local emergency services, who depend on Vodafone’s network infrastructure.

As the online community celebrated what they saw as the fall of a pawn in their war against tech there was just one problem: the mast affected didn’t even carry 5G.

The Dundee 5G group on Facebook is one of a number of local communities of sceptics convinced that the government and media are lying to them about new technology.

Deb Brown, a moderator on the group, came to the conclu

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“mass genocide” after poring over pages and pages of unverified and false information on social media.

She believed billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates – a frequent scapegoat of conspiracy theorists – was behind the plot.

The 56-year-old, from the West End of the city, said: “The number of top senior staff and doctors and nurses saying what is being promoted in mainstream media is wrong . . . it’s worldwide. It’s so obviously propaganda.

“Bill Gates, these people, are all bought and paid for, part and parcel of a conspiracy. But it’s not a conspiracy, it’s an agenda.”

Asked if she believes 5G is responsible for the virus, she responded: “I believe what I have read. This Covid, I’m not saying I don’t believe there’s a nasty virus but I do believe that they’re manipulating the figures.”

Mobile UK, a lobbying body representing the country’s four major mobile networks, says the theories around 5G are