Twitter Bans 5G Conspiracy Theorists From Sharing Harmful Misinformation
TOPLINE
Twitter has updated its coronavirus guidelines, stating it will remove unverified claims that cause “widespread panic” or encourage people to act on conspiracy theories, after phone masts across the U.K. were set alight following bogus claims about 5G.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey
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KEY FACTS
The social media platform said on Wednesday that content such as “5G causes coronavirus! Go destroy the cell towers in your neighborhood!” would violate their policy and be removed.
Tweets that also violate the policy by causing “widespread panic,” including content such as “The National Guard just announced that no more shipments of food will be arriving for two months! Run to the grocery store and buy everything!” will also be deleted.
However, the platform stopped short of saying it would take down coronavirus misinformation altogether.
“As we’ve said previously, we will not take enforcement action on every Tweet that contains incomplete or disputed information about COVID-19,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.
Crucial quote
“We have broadened our guidance on unverified claims that incite people to engage in harmful activity, could lead to the destruction or damage of critical 5G infrastructure, or could lead to widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder,” Twitter TWTR said on Wednesday.
Big number
2,230. That’s how many tweets taken down by Twitter that contain misleading and potentially harmful content, since March 18.
Key background
A handful of cellphone towers have been set alight in the U.K. in the past few weeks. Arsonists acting on the false conspiracy theory that 5G is linked to the spread of coronavirus, are believed to be behind the acts. Scientists and fact checkers have debunked several claims, including bogus social media posts that claim the virus is a cover-up for damage caused by 5G technology. Full Fact confirms that these claims are false, and there is no evidence that 5G is harmful to health.
Further reading
UK Phone Masts Are Being Set On Fire Over ‘Dangerous’ 5G Coronavirus Conspiracies (Forbes)
These claims about the new coronavirus and 5G are unfounded (Full Fact)
Here’s How Facebook, Twitter And TikTok Are Battling Coronavirus Misinformation (Forbes)
Twitter Fails To Remove Almost 60% Of COVID-19 Misinformation, Study Claims (Forbes)
5G Networks And COVID-19 Coronavirus: Here Are The Latest Conspiracy Theories (Forbes)
The Controversial Rumor COVID-19 Originated In A Wuhan Lab Creeps Into The GOP Mainstream (Forbes)
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*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from Forbes can be found here ***
