CLUE-H workshop on societal and ethical impacts of 5G and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) technology.

One of the sessions of the CLUE-H workshop on societal and ethical impacts of 5G and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) technology in Barcelona.

On 26 May 2025 in Barcelona, #ProjectGOLIAT hosted the CLUE-H workshop on societal and ethical impacts of 5G and radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) technology. The event brought together 102 international participants from academia, industry, and public sector.

Key themes addressed in the presentations included:

  • Tensions between lay and expert risk perceptions, ethical considerations in siting mobile phone masts, and the ethical implications of research dissemination.
  • Health uncertainty as a dominant factor driving public distrust, the impact of misinformation, and citizens’ demands for transparency and independent research.
  • 5G as a transformative technology with inherent health and transparency concerns, the concept of “epistemic recognition” for constructive dialogue, and the importance of engaging respectfully with individuals reporting RF-EMF sensitivity.
  • Ethical dilemmas posed by the placebo-nocebo effect, and the effectiveness of providing exposure information.
  • The “FAT” Principles (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency) for RF-EMF research, dissemination and stakeholder engagement.
  • Ethical and societal impacts of AI, the disconnect between social scientists and technology experts, the “ethics-in-practice problem,” and trust as a vital starting point for responsible research and innovation.

Two group discussion sessions followed the presentations, and two key themes were reported back in the final plenary session.

  • Ethical Integration in Research Practice: The systematic integration of ethical considerations throughout the research lifecycle, identifying and addressing misconceptions and risk perception, bridging disciplinary gaps, facilitating dialogue with concerned individuals, ensuring scientific integrity, and building public trust through transparency.
  • Addressing Public Concerns in EMF Research: Reframing RF-EMF exposure communication to provide relative comparisons, ethical approaches to engaging with individuals whose beliefs may not align with scientific consensus, participatory approaches and citizen science, addressing misinformation, and tailoring communication for different audiences and stakeholders.

The workshop participants emphasised that trust in emerging technologies must be earned through transparent, honest, and inclusive engagement.