In early 2020, the mystery and unanswered questions about the new COVID-19 virus fueled fear and misinformation. Conspiracy theories spread faster than the disease, including bizarre notions that COVID-19 was linked to the latest telecommunications technology 5G.

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In Europe, in particular, scared citizens and anti-5G groups set fire and sabotaged more than 200 telecom antennas, jeopardizing connectivity for emergency services and hospitals, as well as for people working or sheltering at home.

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As Director of PR for Europe for the mobile telecoms association GSMA, I helped stop arson attacks and restore public trust. I created and executed a multi-stakeholder communications strategy. Key efforts included:

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• Presentations to five departments in the European Commission, World Health Organization, EUROPOL, Facebook, and TikTok. Results included:

  • Multiple governments publicly condemned the arson attacks and stressed the safety of 5G.

  • The UK prosecuted a man for spreading misinformation about 5G and COVID-19. The Guardian Article

  • The WHO added 5G to its Myth Busters webpage about COVID-19 and created a video: WHO Video

  • Facebook and Google both minimized the profile of misinformation about 5G and COVID.

 

• Led a workshop for about 140 public policy/communications professionals for the telecoms industry.

 

• Hosted a public webinar with members of the European Parliament, academics, and industry for 500+ participants.

 

• Created a crisis communications WhatsApp group for the industry to inform and coordinate responses across Europe.

 

• Engaged with labor unions. Joint Statement

 

• Fielded media inquiries and proactively educated journalists to generate news stories that spotlighted misinformation, including in the Financial Times and Politico Europe.

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