4.5. Responding to concerns about security, control and health Concerns about risks of 5G for human freedom, security and health are not new. However, publicity around such concerns, particularly about health, has been escalating over the past twelve months in relation to commercial 5G launches. Anti-5G campaigns have already forced partial suspension of network deployments, for example in Switzerland and Belgium. Unfortunately, they also led to vandalism against telecom infrastructure in the UK and in other countries. The situation has polarized public views also because the anti 5G campaigns have often been led by forces, which benefit from fuelling panic by spreading alarmist information. This includes unproven conspiracy theories and so called ‘fake news’, popularity of which tends to be amplified by social networks. There are currently several groups around the world campaigning for full suspension of 5G rollouts, suspension until more research into health effects is conducted, or tightening of the existing radiation safety limits. This creates challenging situations for policymakers, because attempts to censor public debate about health impact of mobile radiation may risk further polarization in views and undermining potential independent research into this important subject. Meanwhile, letting potential misinformation to spread may adversely affect infrastructures, economies and even health and well-being of people. The main grievances against 5G include: Interference of 5G electromagnetic field with living tissues with potential adverse impact on human health and health of natural ecosystems. Critics of the technology also claim that the use of higher frequencies and techniques such as beamforming could make the ways in which 5G mobile radiation interferes with human tissues different compared to the previous mobile technologies. Concerns that deeper overlaps between the virtual and real worlds will reduce individuals’ control over their life and make them more vulnerable to cybersecurity risks. Such risks may not only be related to malicious intentions, but also to human error, natural forces or failures of IT systems. Concerns that public debate about mobile radiation health may be intentionally suppressed, and scientific research trying to prove links between mobile radiation and human health has not been sufficiently supported. Since 5G has some new elements as a technology, it is naturally surrounded by uncertainties about potential risks and side effects. Many of the concerns discussed on social media are baseless or exaggerated. That said the security/ control risks are relevant, as shown for example in the debate about technology vendors. However, this is addressable by establishing prudent policies and working with trustworthy technology companies. In terms of the radiation health concerns, the frequencies initially used in 5G will not fundamentally differ from what is already being used in mobile networks and WiFi. That said the overall amounts of mobile radiation may increase when 5G is added to the existing networks and there are some other nuances, for example linked to beamforming, which may be theoretically seen as bringing some unknowns and risks. 44