EU needs long-term plan to tackle 5G fake news

The Daily Tribune - newsofbahrain.com

The European Union needs to come up with a strategy to counter disinformation about 5G technology or risk false claims derailing its economic recovery and digital goals, a group of 15 countries including Poland and Sweden said.

Conspiracy theories that the novel coronavirus may be linked to the wireless technology have led to the torching of mobile phone masts in 10 European countries and assaults on maintenance workers in recent months.

The 27-nation EU sees 5G as the linchpin of its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and technology autonomy, with its promise to enable everything from self-driving cars to remote surgery and more automated manufacturing.

“It is clear ... that we are witnessing the increasing activity of the anti-5G movement across the European Union,” they said, calling for the EU to “take an active, long-term and systemic approach” to tackle concerns about 5G and electromagnetic fields (EMF).

“We, as Member States are willing to contribute to this EU-wide initiative with our national expertise and best practice to tackle the issue of 5G and EMF disinformation,” the letter said