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5G access requires a 5G capable device and a 5G coverage area. There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding this coronavirus pandemic, and it's become really hard to know what to believe, which might explain why this virus has become a conspiracy theory magnet.

And there's one specific conspiracy theory that's not only gained traction on the web,

it's also had real-world consequences.

That theory involves 5G, a new wireless technology that promises faster speeds.

At the time of speaking, around 40 mobile phone masks have been set on fire or attacked

as a result of this conspiracy theory.

James Temperton is the digital editor at Wired UK.

He's talking about what's been happening over the last few weeks in Europe.

People are destroying cell phone towers because they think 5G causes COVID-19.

So it's really spilled over. It's not just people saying things on the internet that they

wouldn't say in real life and

behaving on the internet in a way they wouldn't in real life.

It's burst into the real world and resulted in criminal acts, threats of violence,

confrontations.

Today on the show, how a conspiracy theory about coronavirus and 5G gained so much popularity.

And later I ask, how should I go about talking

to a family member or a friend who's bought into one of these theories?

...