COAI to Govt: Remove Fake Posts on Socials Linking COVID-19 to 5G

Industry body COAI has approached MeitY to remove fake messages from socials like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter which are linking the spread of COVID-19 to 5G.

5G And COVID-19 - A Silly Connection

COAI pointed out that since there are no 5G networks in the country, such claims are baseless. What's more, even 5G trials have not started in the country.

COAI DG SP Kochhar wrote a letter to MeitY additional secretary Rajendra Kumar on 15th May. In the letter, he said, "to safeguard the national interest, we request your good office to kindly instruct all the social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc, to remove all such posts and misleading campaigns from their platforms on an urgent basis."

Worryingly, people have been sharing posts on socials claiming that 5G towers are causing the spread of the pandemic. More worryingly, some videos show people willing to even destroy crucial telecom infrastructure such as towers.

Kochhar noted in the letter that such misinformation was on the rise in rural and semi-urban areas of the country. He also said that areas such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab are at the core of this sentiment. Kochhar expressed his worries that this might spread to other parts of the country.

Earlier, the DoT also denied the claims linking the pandemic and 5G, saying that it has no scientific basis. The department also pointed out that the trials were not yet underway. Incidentally, WHO also rejected claims of 5G having any ill effect on the health of people.

COAI further said that spreading myths around telecom can cause significant damage to the telecom sector and is against the national interest.

The industry body said that this development can have many negative effects on telecom services. These issues can obstruct proper telecom services to the government and public authorities. Amid a devastating second wave of the pandemic, that is something no one can afford.