A senior American telecommunications regulator has publicly excoriated late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, branding a recent segment on his show as "irresponsible" for amplifying baseless 5G conspiracy theories.
Brendan Carr, a long-serving commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), took to social media platform X to voice his fierce criticism of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! The controversy stems from a comedy sketch that aired on 22 May, which Carr asserts gave a platform to thoroughly debunked claims linking 5G technology to various health hazards.
The Core of the Controversy
In his lengthy online post, Commissioner Carr didn't mince words. He accused the popular show of "pushing falsehoods" and "fearmongering" about 5G infrastructure, which he emphasised is utterly critical to the United States' economic and technological competitiveness.
"It's irresponsible for anyone to promote debunked claims that threaten our critical infrastructure," Carr stated, highlighting the potential real-world consequences of such misinformation. He expressed particular frustration that the segment treated the conspiracy theories as a subject for humour rather than addressing them with the seriousness they require.
A Pattern of Misinformation?
This isn't the first time Carr has clashed with a media personality over 5G. The FCC commissioner pointed out that he had previously called out HBO's Bill Maher for similar reasons. In his post, Carr suggested that by airing such content, networks like ABC are inadvertently—or perhaps negligently—contributing to public distrust in essential technology.
He stressed that the scientific consensus is clear: 5G technology is safe. Regulatory bodies worldwide, including the FCC, have consistently found that radiofrequency energy from wireless communications devices, including 5G, remains well within established safety guidelines.
Why This Matters
The pushback from a high-level official like Carr underscores a growing concern among policymakers and industry leaders about the impact of misinformation on public perception and infrastructure development. Hindering the rollout of 5G over unfounded fears, he argued, could have significant negative implications for national security, economic growth, and the advancement of future technologies.
As of now, neither Jimmy Kimmel nor ABC has issued a public response to the commissioner's sharp criticisms. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between entertainment media and factual scientific discourse in the modern digital age.
