2020-04-13T14:43:49+02:00

Apr 13, 2020 · 1 min read
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This is an interesting piece of news the The New York Times: “Burning Cell Towers, Out of Baseless Fear They Spread the Virus”. On the one hand, there indeed seemd to be a problem with disinformation about 5G as origin of the novel corona virus.

But then again, it seems remarkable again that the events described in the article are being pushed aside as groundless fear of luddites. While it seems to me that this is yet another example of technology that is pushed through without much input and that not many people are waiting for.

Instead of scoffing away these people it could taken seriously as real (physical) issue with disputes. And seems to me a good example where publics in the sense John Dewey can arise, as this technology has different meanings for different people.

STS
Wouter Van Rossem
Authors
Wouter Van Rossem
Wouter Van Rossem is a researcher on the intersection between social science and computer science. He previously worked on the European Research Council (ERC) funded project, Processing Citizenship, where he investigated how data infrastructures for population processing co-produce citizens, Europe, and territory. He completed his PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and is still working on publications stemming from these impactful projects. In addition to his academic pursuits as a PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, he brings a diverse background as a software engineer, having worked in various companies and at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Italy. His diverse background, spanning both theoretical and hands-on knowledge, reflects his keen interest in exploring the intricate interconnections between technology and society.