Extinction Rebellion demonstrators were captured on video handing out leaflets titled "STOP 5G" at a demonstration on October 17 in Trafalgar Square in London.

The leaflets, which read "STOP 5G" on the front alongside the Extinction Rebellion logo, claim that "if 5G is rolled out as the telecom industry envisions then there will be little to no way of avoiding prolonged exposure to health-threatening RFs - at home, on the street, transport or office".

However, the World Health Organization said in 2014 that "no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use".

Public Health England has said "It is possible that there may be a small increase in overall exposure to radio waves when 5G is added to an existing network or in a new area. However, the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health."

Extinction Rebellion's website says under its FAQs, "We focus on the issues that have a clear body of mainstream science with a large consensus of opinion – for example, biodiversity loss and climate change. There is certainly no conspiracy at the heart of XR to promote 5G and/or other technical solutions and such conspiracy theories are best seen in the light of usual attempts to divide movements and attack spokespeople, like the attacks on Greta Thunberg."