Twitter has banned tweets supporting 5G conspiracy theories that encourage vandalism.
The social media company said it would remove tweets linking 5G with the coronavirus pandemic if they “incite people to action”.
It updated its policy to include tweets that could cause mass panic or unrest.
Its policies now specify that banned content includes “unverified claims that incite people to action, could lead to the destruction or damage of critical infrastructure, or could lead to widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder”.
Banned tweets would include: “The National Guard just announced that no more shipments of food will be arriving for two months — run to the grocery store ASAP and buy everything” or “5G causes coronavirus — go destroy the cell towers in your neighborhood!”, the company said.
The pandemic has led to a proliferation of conspiracy theories spreading online, including the discredited idea that 5G internet is somehow linked to the outbreak.
The faster mobile internet technology is currently being rolled out across the UK but well-known conspiracy theorists such as David Icke have promoted the false idea that it poses a risk to people’s health.
Such messages have spread on Twitter but also on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Facebook, which owns all three apps, announced it would crack down on the 5G conspiracy earlier this month after mobile phone masts were attacked by arsonists across the UK. It implemented a similar policy, banning posts that promoted physical harm.
It has since shut down several groups that encouraged members to attack masts.
YouTube, owned by Google, has also cracked down on videos promoting the theory, reducing the number of people who see them using its video-recommending algorithms.