Robert Jackman

The fightback against the 5G conspiracy theorists

According to reports this morning, the government is planning to issue an order to all local councils forbidding them from stopping trials of 5G mobile broadband on the basis of what it considers to be unfounded safety claims.

For those that not familiar, 5G (literally ‘fifth generation’) is the next wave of wireless internet which will apparently boost our connection speeds tenfold and increase the UK’s productivity by some £2bn a year. Yet three councils – Totnes, Glastonbury and Frome – are opposing local trials of 5G masts until they’re convinced it doesn’t present an increased cancer risk. The government wants them to think again.

An increased cancer risk might sound pretty alarming. Yet scientists and other experts are completely unambiguous in saying that 5G represents no significant health-risk. So why do so many people seem to think so?

Conspiracy theories and scare stories about the radiation from mobile phone networks are nothing new in themselves.

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