NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has warned that 5G protests could take place on the weekend, which could result in mobile towers being vandalized. The advisory was spotted Thursday by digital news outlet Light Reading.
"NATE as an organization has heard through official channels that there are 5G Global Protest Day activities being planned throughout the country this Saturday," the association wrote in a release Thursday. "NATE reminds our member companies and their employees to remain safe, exercise vigilance and report any unusual or suspicious activities that they witness when traveling to and working at tower sites this weekend."
NATE is a nonprofit trade association representing companies in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Bahamas, Trinidad, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Israel, Ghana, Puerto Rico, Spain, Singapore, and China.
Company CEO Todd Schlekeway told Light Reading about the rumors of a Global 5G Protest Day from tower companies and carriers. NATE, T-Mobile, Verizon, and CTIA -- which represents the US wireless industry -- didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. AT&T didn't provide a comment.
Protests against 5G have already ravaged the U.K., linking the next-gen mobile network to the spread of the coronavirus. Cell masts in the country have been burned down by conspiracy theorists.
But such theories have been proven false by experts -- radio waves can't cause a virus. Social media sites have committed to taking down this kind of misinformation, which could harm the lives of many. The UK's national medical director called the 5G conspiracy theory "complete and utter rubbish."
Omer van den Bergh, a tenured professor of Health and Psychology at the University of Leuven in Belgium has explained the psychology behind why people think 5G makes them sick.
Prof. Van den Bergh has researched extensively about Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance, a term used to describe genuine physical symptoms that materialize when some people encounter chemical substances, electromagnetic fields, and even vibroacoustic sources like windmills. These factors have nothing to do with the symptoms as proven by tests, but the mere belief that they cause illnesses is enough to cause physical reactions, such as an unexplainable rash, difficulty in breathing, and phantom vibrations.
Individuals with Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance don't have the usual worries like rational-minded people have, such as sensitivities to perfumes or household cleaners. They are instead more worried about electromagnetic radiation. This is where the natural alignment with 5G conspiracy theorists starts to emerge.
In response, the FCC stated unequivocally last year that 5G does not pose a health risk.
