Claim: Patent shows 5G base stations are being used for ‘brainwashing’
A Facebook video from September 20th (direct link, archive link) shows a woman speaking in front of images of cell phone towers as she describes a patent she claims proves 5G towers are being used to “brainwash” people.
“The towers are everywhere,” she says, “they’re everywhere. And they can manipulate us and literally make us feel what they want us to feel.”
The video has been shared more than 25,000 times in about two weeks.
Follow us on Facebook!Like our page to receive updates on the latest debunks throughout the day
Our rating: False
The patent has nothing to do with 5G technology or cell towers. It was granted in 1991 and expired in 2011. A spokesman for the group founded by the inventor who filed the patent said it was about audio technology used during meditation.
The patent is not related to 5G technology or mobile phone base stations
The U.S. Patent No. 5356368A cited in the video does exist, but it has nothing to do with 5G technology or cell towers. The patent was filed on March 1, 1991, and expired on October 18, 2011, long before the first 5G wireless networks were launched.
The inventor named on the patent is Robert Monroe, founder of the Monroe Institute, a non-profit organization that describes itself as “the world leader in the exploration of human consciousness.”
Paul Citarella, the institute’s vice president, said the Facebook video was a “textbook example” of misinformation.
“There is absolutely no connection between the patent referenced in the Facebook post and 5G towers, or any other towers,” Citarella told USA Today. “This is a complete fabrication.”
Fact CheckMobile phones that are turned off or in airplane mode cannot receive emergency alerts.
The patent describes specific technology that allows certain frequencies to be superimposed onto “certain sounds, such as music,” in order to “induce a desired level of sleep.”
“Please note that these signals are distributed through regular audio like any other music,” Citarella said. “They are not broadcast in any way.”
“5G” refers to the fifth generation of wireless technology that will support cellular data networks, and while it has been fodder for conspiracy theorists, studies have shown it poses no harmful health effects, as USA TODAY previously reported.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
PolitiFact also denied the allegations.
Fact Check Sources:
- Paul Citarella, Oct. 6, email correspondence with USA TODAY
- Google Patents, accessed October 6, Method and apparatus for inducing desired states of consciousness
- USA TODAY, August 27, 2019 5G could change everything: What you need to know before buying this technology
- USA TODAY, November 11, 2020, Fact Check: No, 5G Wireless Networks Are Not Dangerous
- Reuters, April 5, 2019. Who will launch 5G first? It depends on who you ask.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to the print edition, the ad-free app or our e-newspaper here.
Our fact-checking work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
