5G mobile tower coronavirus conspiracy theory: What you need to know

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly issued alerts to telecom service providers and law enforcement agencies about potential attacks on mobile towers and telecom employees in the country. There have already been "arson and physical attacks against cell towers in several US states," according to the DHS advisory. The incidents of mobile tower burning in the US are not isolated, similar incidents have been reported from several countries in Europe, New Zealand and Canada as well. Here's all you need to know about this misguided 5G-coronavirus theory.

These false coronavirus conspiracy theories blame the spread of COVID-19 on 5G technology. These theories largely make two claims: One, 5G spreads coronavirus by directly transmitting the virus over radio waves. Two, it affects the immune system that makes people susceptible to the disease.

"We assess conspiracy theories linking the spread of Covid-19 to the expansion of the 5G cellular network are inciting attacks against the communications infrastructure globally and that these threats probably will increase as the disease continues to spread, including calls for violence against telecommunications workers," says DHS intelligence report as per ABC.

According to a report in Wired UK, the notion apparently started after a Belgian newspaper in January published an interview with a doctor who spoke about the ill-effects of 5G, including likely link with coronavirus. The article was later deleted from the website. However, the doctor's comments are said to have been picked by several anti-5G campaigners.

The World Health Organization has denied any link between coronavirus and 5G. The WHO's list of Covid-19 myths includes 5G conspiracy theory. As per WHO, "Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks."