China has a massive 5G network but without the coronavirus conspiracy theories
5G has long been a favorite topic in Chinese tech circles but not for the same reason as the West
If you happen to wander into certain corners of Facebook and YouTube these days, you might hear that 5G makes your hair fall off, kills birds and causes cancer. More recently, you’ll also find out that it’s somehow connected to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Misinformation like this has turned the next generation of mobile connectivity into fodder for conspiracy theories in the West, culminating in attacks on 5G masts in several cities in the UK at the beginning of April.
But in China, the country with what’s said to be the largest 5G network in the world, those fears seem to be largely absent.
5G is a popular topic in Chinese media. It’s lauded as the technology that will help develop everything from the Internet of Things to driverless cars to artificial intelligence, according to Zhu Wei, professor of communications law at the China University of Political Science and Law.
This seems very different from what is happening in the rest of the world. Although the 5G conspiracy theories are being pushed by a small number of users, they’ve gained more traction than most. They’ve been picked up by some popular media outlets and in some cases are being promoted by celebrities – despite the overwhelming scientific consensus against them.