They Grow Like Cancer Cells... 'They' Make the Money While a 2 Trillion-Won Bill Falls on Citizens [Conspiracy Theory Business]

③ The Social Cost of Conspiracy Theories

Editor's Note
Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), Bill Gates' alleged plot to control humanity, idols supposedly obeying the orders of Satan. Unverified conspiracy theories have existed across different eras and regions. They feed on social anxiety and distrust, constantly reinventing themselves to fit the technological landscape of their time. The rise of the internet dramatically accelerated the spread of conspiracy theories, erasing the boundaries between nations. Now, with the addition of generative artificial intelligence (AI), even the line between fact and fiction is becoming blurred. Conspiracy theories are no longer just irrational superstitions or internet legends; through views, sponsorships, paid communities, and product sales, they have developed into an industry of their own. The Asia Business Daily takes an in-depth look into the 'Conspiracy Theory Business' through cases from Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

As conspiracy theories have become an industry, the damages caused by misinformation have been concentrated on ordinary citizens. In fact, studies abroad have estimated the social costs of conspiracy theories to amount to billions of dollars. The problem lies in the scope of this damage. While the profits from conspiracy theories go to specific individuals and organizations, the costs generated must ultimately be borne by society as a whole. In particular, experts point out that the collapse of social trust caused by conspiracy theories has a long-term impact on society.

There have been cases in the United States where people who spread conspiracy theories have been held liable for significant damages. In 2012, a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut resulted in 26 deaths. At the time, far-right broadcaster Alex Jones claimed that the incident was deliberately orchestrated by the government as a pretext for gun control. He also accused the victims' parents of being "crisis actors" merely pretending to grieve. As these claims spread, believers increased, with some sending threatening messages or locating and harassing bereaved families. As a result, victims of the incident became victims once again due to the conspiracy theories. Ultimately, in October last year, the U.S. Supreme Court finalized a ruling ordering Jones, the conspiracy theorist, to pay 1.4 billion dollars (2.1518 trillion won) in damages to the victims' families.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, conspiracy theories even led to the burning of mobile communication base stations. Claims that "5G communication signals spread COVID-19" went viral on social media, making base stations prime targets for attack. According to The Guardian, in April 2020, over 20 base stations across the UK were set on fire or damaged. Attacks were particularly concentrated in areas around Liverpool and the West Midlands, and some base stations targeted were actually using 3G or 4G—not 5G—equipment, but fell victim to indiscriminate attacks nonetheless. In addition, technicians working for telecommunications companies were subjected to verbal abuse or threats by citizens, with at least 30 such incidents reported.

A 5G mobile communication base station located on Stewartstown Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, burnt down due to arson. BBC.

In Japan, anti-vaccine conspiracy theories led to the intrusion of medical facilities. Influenced by the American conspiracy movement "QAnon," Japan's "Yamato Q" group claimed that COVID-19 vaccines were unproven and should be stopped. Not only did they stage anti-vaccine protests in various parts of the country, but they also entered medical facilities to conduct protest actions.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, in April 2022, four Yamato Q members were arrested on charges of illegal entry into a clinic in Tokyo, where pediatric vaccinations were being carried out. While they claimed they "only asked to see the vaccine's ingredients," the police considered their actions to be trespassing under the law.

As illustrated, conspiracy theories are no longer confined to online spaces, but are spilling over into real-world actions. Consequently, studies to quantify the social costs caused by conspiracy theories and misinformation are actively underway. According to a study by Brown University in the U.S. last year, COVID-19 vaccine-related misinformation led to an estimated additional 2.3 million infections and 66,000 additional hospitalizations in the U.S. in 2021. The researchers stated that the cost of these additional hospitalizations alone reached 2 billion dollars (2.7 trillion won). This represents costs that could have been avoided if misinformation had not prevented timely vaccination.

Furthermore, experts highlight that the long-term social costs—difficult to assess in monetary terms—are even greater. The distrust left behind by conspiracy theories continues to affect society long after an incident ends, eroding trust in institutions.

Karen Douglas, a professor at the University of Kent in the UK who studies conspiracy theories, stressed in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "Conspiracy theories intensify social distrust and polarization, and can do real harm to public health and democracy." She added, "If people cannot trust the government, the media, or scientific organizations, society's ability to respond to crises itself may be severely weakened."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.