UK media regulator to assess ITV programme over 5G-coronavirus conspiracy comments

 

FILE PHOTO: A company sign is displayed outside an ITV studio in London, Britain July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s media regulator Ofcom is assessing an ITV (ITV.L) programme after a presenter questioned why the mainstream media had slapped down a conspiracy theory linking the spread of the coronavirus to 5G masts.

 

Hosting ‘This Morning’ on Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster on Monday, Eamonn Holmes said the media did not know if there was any link between the telecommunication equipment and the pandemic which had killed 11,329 in Britain by Sunday.

 

Ofcom said it had received 419 complaints so far.

 

“We are assessing this programme in full as a priority,” a spokeswoman said. ITV did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Britain’s cabinet officer minister, Michael Gove, and senior health officials have described the 5G conspiracy theory as dangerous fake news after people vandalised mobile phone masts and abused telecoms staff in recent weeks.

 

Telecoms companies including the biggest EE (BT.L) and Vodafone (VOD.L) have said the attacks are threatening connectivity at a time when it is needed more than ever during the lockdown.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-14

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i see they are trying to justify the fact the UK will go ahead with hua wei tek after the virus passes against the will of the majority,more of the same,theyd be better to look into chinas actions on spreading it over chinese new year but dont hold your breath on that one

1 minute ago, rupert the bear said:

i see they are trying to justify the fact the UK will go ahead with hua wei tek after the virus passes against the will of the majority,more of the same,theyd be better to look into chinas actions on spreading it over chinese new year but dont hold your breath on that one

No, they are saying this conspiracy nonsense and the attacks on communications are dangerous.

36 minutes ago, stevenl said:

No, they are saying this conspiracy nonsense and the attacks on communications are dangerous.

Attacks on telecoms equipment are no more justifiable than is the attempt to stifle debate on a possible link between 5G and the COVID-19.

 

Vandalism is unlawful. Expressing a view or theory about a particular issue, however contentious, is not - or certainly shouldn't be in a free society.

 

We already have enough public servants in uniform chucking their weight about, without Ofcom's self-appointed censors try to add their puny six penn'orth.

 

 

22 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Attacks on telecoms equipment are no more justifiable than is the attempt to stifle debate on a possible link between 5G and the COVID-19.

 

Vandalism is unlawful. Expressing a view or theory about a particular issue, however contentious, is not - or certainly shouldn't be in a free society.

 

We already have enough public servants in uniform chucking their weight about, without Ofcom's self-appointed censors try to add their puny six penn'orth.

 

 

If the programme (which I didn't see) presented an argument that 5g may well exascerbate possible damage from microwaves to humans and animals, that is fair comment. But if it presented an argument that 5g affects COVID-19, that is dangerous conspiracy & should be stopped.

49 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Attacks on telecoms equipment are no more justifiable than is the attempt to stifle debate on a possible link between 5G and the COVID-19.

 

Vandalism is unlawful. Expressing a view or theory about a particular issue, however contentious, is not - or certainly shouldn't be in a free society.

 

We already have enough public servants in uniform chucking their weight about, without Ofcom's self-appointed censors try to add their puny six penn'orth.

 

 

You’ve not heard have you, all views are not equal.

 

Hogwash isn’t a valid view, dangerous hogwash certainly is not and has no place being broadcast on TV.

 

Facts, truth and science matter!

47 minutes ago, khunken said:

If the programme (which I didn't see) presented an argument that 5g may well exascerbate possible damage from microwaves to humans and animals, that is fair comment. But if it presented an argument that 5g affects COVID-19, that is dangerous conspiracy & should be stopped.

Not all that long ago, saying the earth was flat or that the sun went round the earth was a dangerous conspiracy. It was dangerous to those who postulated such nonsense as it could get them killed. Even now, just taking the gentle mickey out of a certain prophet might well produce the same end result. No, don't try it.

 

Today, there's a dangerous conspiracy to persuade us the world has only a few years left to save itself from being burned to a crisp. Yet nobody suggests harming the proponents of this contentious and frightening proposition, despite it having spawned an epidemic of child depression, sundry acts of vandalism and a number of suicides..

 

The most dangerous conspiracy of all, however, is that which seeks to prevent us from contributing to the civil discourse, which distinguishes democratic societies from all others, because this or that view conflicts with the official narrative or the public concensus.

 

As a cursory look at history will show, it worked like a charm for dictators such as Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin and a certain German gentleman of Austro-Hungarian descent whom our freedom-loving forebears died in the millions to defeat.

 

Please don't tell me it all was a waste of time and lives.

Edited April 15, 20206 yr by Krataiboy

21 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You’ve not heard have you, all views are not equal.

 

Hogwash isn’t a valid view, dangerous hogwash certainly is not and has no place being broadcast on TV.

 

Facts, truth and science matter!

And who better to pronounce on hogwash, Chomps, than arguably its foremost Forum exponent!

37 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

And who better to pronounce on hogwash, Chomps, than arguably its foremost Forum exponent!

So your defense of fallacy is an ad hominem!

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 20206 yr by Chomper Higgot

17 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Not all that long ago, saying the earth was flat or that the sun went round the earth was a dangerous conspiracy. It was dangerous to those who postulated such nonsense as it could get them killed. Even now, just taking the gentle mickey out of a certain prophet might well produce the same end result. No, don't try it.

 

Today, there's a dangerous conspiracy to persuade us the world has only a few years left to save itself from being burned to a crisp. Yet nobody suggests harming the proponents of this contentious and frightening proposition, despite it having spawned an epidemic of child depression, sundry acts of vandalism and a number of suicides..

 

The most dangerous conspiracy of all, however, is that which seeks to prevent us from contributing to the civil discourse, which distinguishes democratic societies from all others, because this or that view conflicts with the official narrative or the public concensus.

 

As a cursory look at history will show, it worked like a charm for dictators such as Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin and a certain German gentleman of Austro-Hungarian descent whom our freedom-loving forebears died in the millions to defeat.

 

Please don't tell me it all was a waste of time and lives.

I think you’ll find equating lies with truth and placing fallacy on the same footing as truth is what dictators have used to gain, hold and abuse power.

 

 

Edited April 15, 20206 yr by Chomper Higgot

9 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Not all that long ago, saying the earth was flat or that the sun went round the earth was a dangerous conspiracy. It was dangerous to those who postulated such nonsense as it could get them killed. Even now, just taking the gentle mickey out of a certain prophet might well produce the same end result. No, don't try it.

 

Today, there's a dangerous conspiracy to persuade us the world has only a few years left to save itself from being burned to a crisp. Yet nobody suggests harming the proponents of this contentious and frightening proposition, despite it having spawned an epidemic of child depression, sundry acts of vandalism and a number of suicides..

 

The most dangerous conspiracy of all, however, is that which seeks to prevent us from contributing to the civil discourse, which distinguishes democratic societies from all others, because this or that view conflicts with the official narrative or the public concensus.

 

As a cursory look at history will show, it worked like a charm for dictators such as Chairman Mao, Josef Stalin and a certain German gentleman of Austro-Hungarian descent whom our freedom-loving forebears died in the millions to defeat.

 

Please don't tell me it all was a waste of time and lives.

You got your knickers in a twist in your first paragraph. It was those who said the earth was not flat (a globe) & that the earth travelled around the sun - that got killed.

 

Actually the 'dangerous' conspiracy about the earth being under pressure from climate change is far closer to being scientifically proven than microwaves from 5g.

 

Actually the most dangerous conspiracies that lead to violence, whether it's religion, racism, xenophobia, dehumanism or just scaremongering, all need to be curbed as there are always sufficient nut cases that react violently. If it affects 'freedom' of speech or writing, it is a necessary restriction.

 

The world has evolved since WWII. Have you?

9 minutes ago, khunken said:

You got your knickers in a twist in your first paragraph. It was those who said the earth was not flat (a globe) & that the earth travelled around the sun - that got killed.

 

Actually the 'dangerous' conspiracy about the earth being under pressure from climate change is far closer to being scientifically proven than microwaves from 5g.

 

Actually the most dangerous conspiracies that lead to violence, whether it's religion, racism, xenophobia, dehumanism or just scaremongering, all need to be curbed as there are always sufficient nut cases that react violently. If it affects 'freedom' of speech or writing, it is a necessary restriction.

 

The world has evolved since WWII. Have you?

Spot on.

 

This whole story is a prime example of the dangers of peddling conspiracies and how easily some people are manipulated into attacks on the basis of what most people would regard as laughable nonsense.

 

Facts, truth and science matter and lies have consequences.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So your defense of fallacy is an ad hominem!

 

 

 

Who are you to decide it is a fallacy. Let's have the debate, examine the facts, and get at the truth. 

 

If the theory turns out to be hogwash, so much the better. But supposing - just supposing - it turns out to be right. . . 

 

3 hours ago, khunken said:

You got your knickers in a twist in your first paragraph. It was those who said the earth was not flat (a globe) & that the earth travelled around the sun - that got killed.

 

Actually the 'dangerous' conspiracy about the earth being under pressure from climate change is far closer to being scientifically proven than microwaves from 5g.

 

Actually the most dangerous conspiracies that lead to violence, whether it's religion, racism, xenophobia, dehumanism or just scaremongering, all need to be curbed as there are always sufficient nut cases that react violently. If it affects 'freedom' of speech or writing, it is a necessary restriction.

 

The world has evolved since WWII. Have you?

Thanks for untwisting my knickers. The point I was obviously seeking to make still stands.

 

It is not a conspiracy that 5G emits microwaves, but an established scientific fact, unlike the global warming hypothesis on which the jury is still very much out.

 

When it comes to free speech, we already have legal strictures on what is permissible. We don't need to add more.. Make "scaremongering" an offence, as you suggest, and little Greta, Extinction Rebellion and most of the mass media would likely end up in the dock.

 

While obviously the world has evolved, it is by no means always been for the better - as demonstrated by the ongoing attacks on our rights and freedoms, ramped up to new levels on the back of the pandemic. The way things are going, the "cure" could be more damaging than the virus.

Edited April 15, 20206 yr by Krataiboy

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

Who are you to decide it is a fallacy. Let's have the debate, examine the facts, and get at the truth. 

 

If the theory turns out to be hogwash, so much the better. But supposing - just supposing - it turns out to be right. . . 

 

First prove the link between G5 transmission towers and COVID-19 then bring your proof to the media.

 

Don’t bring crackpot fallacy and broadcast it as having veracity at all.

16 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Thanks for untwisting my knickers. The point I was obviously seeking to make still stands.

 

It is not a conspiracy that 5G emits microwaves, but an established scientific fact, unlike the global warming hypothesis on which the jury is still very much out.

 

When it comes to free speech, we already have legal strictures on what is permissible. We don't need to add more.. Make "scaremongering" an offence, as you suggest, and little Greta, Extinction Rebellion and most of the mass media would likely end up in the dock.

 

While obviously the world has evolved, it is by no means always been for the better - as demonstrated by the ongoing attacks on our rights and freedoms, ramped up to new levels on the back of the pandemic. The way things are going, the "cure" could be more damaging than the virus.

Free speech is not in question.

 

Broadcasting standards are, broadcasting a patent crackpot conspiracy theory breaches those standards.

 

Go do some science and come back with research to prove this G5 COVID-19 link, there might be a gong in it for you.

28 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Thanks for untwisting my knickers. The point I was obviously seeking to make still stands.

 

It is not a conspiracy that 5G emits microwaves, but an established scientific fact, unlike the global warming hypothesis on which the jury is still very much out.

 

When it comes to free speech, we already have legal strictures on what is permissible. We don't need to add more.. Make "scaremongering" an offence, as you suggest, and little Greta, Extinction Rebellion and most of the mass media would likely end up in the dock.

 

While obviously the world has evolved, it is by no means always been for the better - as demonstrated by the ongoing attacks on our rights and freedoms, ramped up to new levels on the back of the pandemic. The way things are going, the "cure" could be more damaging than the virus.

Sorry to hear established science is not on your side, on 2 different subjects.

 

But denying science won't help you any further, you have to accept and move on.

I never said that 5g doesn't emit microwaves - If you read my first post I made that clear. I did say that whether they have an effect on humans & animals is NOT a proven fact but a poorly-researched theory with various anecdotal additions - but I don't write it off, yet. I also said that if the program in question was putting forward an outrageous conspiracy theory (i.e. scaremongering) that 5g affected COVID-19, it deserved to be canned. So was that its theme & did you watch it?

 

You seem to be convinced that little research about the effects of 5g is acceptable and huge amounts of research on the effects of climate change is not. Logic is obviously not your strong point.

 

True that the world does not always evolve for the better but curtailing your 'rights' so that others are kept safe from harm is a very positive addition to evolution. The same applies to the current virus restrictions which, in the main, are for the common good & rightly ignoring 'my my my rights'.

 

 

18 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Free speech is not in question.

 

Broadcasting standards are, broadcasting a patent crackpot conspiracy theory breaches those standards.

 

Go do some science and come back with research to prove this G5 COVID-19 link, there might be a gong in it for you.

Read my earlier posts on this subject. I am not saying there is a link, only that the theory is worthy of being aired and investigated to see if it holds water.

 

Unfortunately, what you dismiss (possibly rightly) as a "crackpot" hypothesis is being used by those who stand to profit most from 5G to discredit the growing number of scientists, doctors and environmentalists who warn of its health and other potential hazards.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 20206 yr by Krataiboy

17 hours ago, stevenl said:

Sorry to hear established science is not on your side, on 2 different subjects.

 

But denying science won't help you any further, you have to accept and move on.

That's what they told Galileo and Einstein. Lucky for us they never listened.

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

Read my earlier posts on this subject. I am not saying there is a link, only that the theory is worthy of being aired and investigated to see if it holds water.

 

Unfortunately, what you dismiss (possibly rightly) as a "crackpot" hypothesis is being used by those who stand to profit most from 5G to discredit the growing number of scientists, doctors and environmentalists who warn of its health and other potential hazards.

 

 

 

 

This is not about 5G, but the alleged connection between 5G and Corona.

"5G is not going to microwave your brain: All the myths, debunked" 

 

https://www.androidauthority.com/5g-dangers-895776/

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, stevenl said:

This is not about 5G, but the alleged connection between 5G and Corona.

Unfortunately, they are being deliberately conflated in media, with predictable results.

Edited April 16, 20206 yr by Krataiboy

3 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Unfortunately, they are being deliberately conflated in media, with predictable results.

Only in conspiracy theory media. 

1 hour ago, 7by7 said:

"5G is not going to microwave your brain: All the myths, debunked" 

 

https://www.androidauthority.com/5g-dangers-895776/

 

 

 

While I don't subscribe to the notion that 5g (or any of the previous gs) is scientifically proven to scramble people's brains, this - from Android - is like big coal or big oil 'debunking' climate change.

 

In other words, it is propaganda.

19 hours ago, khunken said:

I never said that 5g doesn't emit microwaves - If you read my first post I made that clear. I did say that whether they have an effect on humans & animals is NOT a proven fact but a poorly-researched theory with various anecdotal additions - but I don't write it off, yet. I also said that if the program in question was putting forward an outrageous conspiracy theory (i.e. scaremongering) that 5g affected COVID-19, it deserved to be canned. So was that its theme & did you watch it?

 

You seem to be convinced that little research about the effects of 5g is acceptable and huge amounts of research on the effects of climate change is not. Logic is obviously not your strong point.

 

 True that the world does not always evolve for the better but curtailing your 'rights' so that others are kept safe from harm is a very positive addition to evolution. The same applies to the current virus restrictions which, in the main, are for the common good & rightly ignoring 'my my my rights'. 

 

 

I have already made my position clear on the alleged link between 5G and COVID 19. Regarding the safety or otherwise of 5G, may I suggest you need to dig a little more.

 

The case for a moratorium on 5G roll-out is based not on "little research",  but on thousands of peer-reviewed papers which have persuaded an increasing number of scientists, doctors, environmentalists of its current hazardous nature. Hence the calls for safety tests.

 

You may not consider their case convincing, but others arguably more qualified than laymen like us to make such a judgement certainly do:

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30221-3/fulltext

 

Time will tell whether or not the global warming/climate change alarmists are correct. However their numerous failed predictions of vanishing arctic ice and other cataclysmic events which failed to materialise clearly begs the question.

 

The defence of free speech is not merely a matter of principal, but of practicality. Public discourse is a clearly a better way to resolve contentious issues than violence, which tends historically to be the alternative.

 

Benjamin Franklin sagely said, albeit in a different context, "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety". When the pandemic has passed, one wonders how enthusiastic governments will be to return civil rights arbitrarily stolen on the pretext of saving lives.

 

Looking back on the aftermath of other seismic global events - the War on Terror, for example - does not fill one with optimism.

 

 

11 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

I have already made my position clear on the alleged link between 5G and COVID 19. Regarding the safety or otherwise of 5G, may I suggest you need to dig a little more.

 

The case for a moratorium on 5G roll-out is based not on "little research",  but on thousands of peer-reviewed papers which have persuaded an increasing number of scientists, doctors, environmentalists of its current hazardous nature. Hence the calls for safety tests.

 

You may not consider their case convincing, but others arguably more qualified than laymen like us to make such a judgement certainly do:

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30221-3/fulltext

 

Time will tell whether or not the global warming/climate change alarmists are correct. However their numerous failed predictions of vanishing arctic ice and other cataclysmic events which failed to materialise clearly begs the question.

 

The defence of free speech is not merely a matter of principal, but of practicality. Public discourse is a clearly a better way to resolve contentious issues than violence, which tends historically to be the alternative.

 

Benjamin Franklin sagely said, albeit in a different context, "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety". When the pandemic has passed, one wonders how enthusiastic governments will be to return civil rights arbitrarily stolen on the pretext of saving lives.

 

Looking back on the aftermath of other seismic global events - the War on Terror, for example - does not fill one with optimism.

 

 

No you haven't made your position on the 'link' between 5g and COVID-19 clear. Nor have you answered a key question that I'll repeat here:

Was the ITV programme about that 'link' and did you watch it?

 

I have read all that I need (re: 5g) and none, repeat none, of the papers have proven anything apart from more research being necessary. That is in contrast to far more research confirming that climate change is now with us in many ways - & I don't need your efforts to exaggerate some of the findings in your failure to accept them.

 

Personally I don't give a sh-1t what Franklyn said - he lived in a slave-driven era. No free speech is being curtailed because of the virus - only dangerous instigation of violence-leading conspiracies. Just like IS and AQ advocates don't get a hearing.

 

You are deliberately mixing free speech with a lockdown and exaggerating both into yet more conspiracy theory. Are you using tarot cards or a crystal ball? I try not to get into fortune-telling so no prediction from me.

 

So, to sum up, apparently you haven't evolved since WWII (or Franklyn's time?), you are an advocate of all sorts of conspiracies, selfishly don't like your liberty being curtailed at a critical time & illogically accept one lot of research and reject an even better lot.

 

And that's my lot on this topic.

36 minutes ago, khunken said:

No you haven't made your position on the 'link' between 5g and COVID-19 clear. Nor have you answered a key question that I'll repeat here:

Was the ITV programme about that 'link' and did you watch it?

 

I have read all that I need (re: 5g) and none, repeat none, of the papers have proven anything apart from more research being necessary. That is in contrast to far more research confirming that climate change is now with us in many ways - & I don't need your efforts to exaggerate some of the findings in your failure to accept them.

 

Personally I don't give a sh-1t what Franklyn said - he lived in a slave-driven era. No free speech is being curtailed because of the virus - only dangerous instigation of violence-leading conspiracies. Just like IS and AQ advocates don't get a hearing.

 

You are deliberately mixing free speech with a lockdown and exaggerating both into yet more conspiracy theory. Are you using tarot cards or a crystal ball? I try not to get into fortune-telling so no prediction from me.

 

So, to sum up, apparently you haven't evolved since WWII (or Franklyn's time?), you are an advocate of all sorts of conspiracies, selfishly don't like your liberty being curtailed at a critical time & illogically accept one lot of research and reject an even better lot.

 

And that's my lot on this topic.

More than enough, I would venture. Be happy.

17 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

That's what they told Galileo and Einstein. Lucky for us they never listened.

Apart from equating crackpot G5 fallacies to the work of Galileo and Einstein you are wrong on three other points:

 

1. Galileo was not challenging the science of his age, he was using the science of his age and created a challenge to the religious doctrine of his age.

 

2. Einstein was using the science and mathematics of his age to expand science and create a new scientific theory.

 

3. Both Galileo and Einstein did their science, spent years reworking, refining and verifying their science - then they published their work.

To add my own comments on this topic:

 

I'm a qualified microwave and RF Engineer, (MSc from University College, London blah blah blah). I worked for many years designing and installing microwave and millimetric transmitters and systems for the UK military, European Space Agency etc.  I also use high power RF every day (I'm a radio amateur).  I understand about the nature of electromagnetic radiation and the possible dangers from it.

 

The concern seems to be about the perceived dangers of 5G radiation. Well, 5G is not something completely new!  It uses two frequency bands, called FR1 and FR2.  The FR1 band uses the same frequencies as existing mobile networks (LTE and 4G systems)!  That's right - there is nothing different, which is why it's ludicrous that people are burning down 5G cellular masts.

 

If you truly believe that 5G is a danger to health, go and burn down all the thousands of LTE and 4G cellular masts as well...  To date, almost all 5G systems only use FR1, because existing handsets for 4G and LTE are almost compatible - same frequency range etc.

 

It's the higher frequency band - FR2, which should be the point of discussion.  This uses the much higher millimetric frequencies, which requires a totally new design of handset and cell site equipment to operate on these frequencies.  ALL electromagnetic energy can be dangerous to living cells, if the power intensity is high enough, (the definition of 'high' will vary dependent upon the frequency).  

 

The envisaged levels of millimetric radiation from both handset and cell site transmitter are very, very low, well within the safety limits that have been tested by military/research organisations around the world for decades. (I designed millimetric transmitters back in the 1980s and I haven't yet died from the effects of millimetric radiation).

 

Everyone should already know not to use a mobile phone pressed to the side of your head for a long phone call, because the electromagnetic radiation will cause a slight heating effect to the nearby body cells.  Most cells can quickly dissipate this heat, but your eyeballs cannot, (no blood vessels in your eyeball...).  So there is a slight risk of cell damage where heat dissipation cannot occur quickly enough, which could lead to growth of a tumouir.

 

As to a link between 5G and Wuhan Flu, electromagnetic radiation does not decrease the level of your immune system, (which might be the only tenuous link to the virus).