YouTube to curb videos promoting 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories that link 5G to the coronavirus are spreading fast on social media.

It's resulting in actual property damage, as some people go around thrashing 5G equipment.

These attacks include a burned 5G mast in Liverpool, as well as a burned telephone mast and a wrecked LTE tower in Birmingham (yes, that last one doesn't even fall under the 5G category). Furthermore, the mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has received threats related to 5G conspiracies.

Now, YouTube is taking steps to reduce the damage.

On Sunday, The Guardian reported that the video platform is already removing videos that breach its guidelines, including ones that promote "medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment." But now, YouTube is taking it a step further — though it stops short of actually removing videos that promote 5G conspiracies.

"We have also begun reducing recommendations of borderline content such as conspiracy theories related to 5G and coronavirus, that could misinform users in harmful ways," a YouTube spokesperson told the newspaper.

The conspiracy theories tying 5G and coronavirus come in various forms, and some have even been shared by popular figures such as actor Woody Harrelson.

But relevant bodies and experts claim the theories are complete nonsense. UK's fact-checking organization Full Fact said "there is no evidence that 5G is harmful to people's health," and England’s National Medical Director Stephen Powis called the theories "fake nonsense."

COVID-19 — the disease caused by coronavirus — has so far killed more than 63,000 and infected more than 1.1 million people. The outbreak has been worsening in the U.S. in recent weeks, with more than 337,600 confirmed cases and 9,643 deaths.