I recently removed several strong posts I made about the upcoming EMF Hazard Summit 2025—specifically regarding “The EMF Guy” and his stance on Li-Fi versus microwave-based communications.
Some might wonder why I backtracked or changed my tone. The truth is, I didn’t back down; I believe I succeeded in doing exactly what I set out to do.
A Personal Lens I Wouldn’t Wish on Anyone
My name is John Coates. I’m the founder of RF Safe and the inventor of various beamforming and light-based communication technologies. My life changed forever in 1995, the day I lost my daughter to a birth defect. That day is etched into my memory with painful detail. I can recall the temperature of the room, the scent in the air, the look on every face. I remember the exact moment I promised her that if I ever discovered what caused her condition, I would fight it—forever.
A 1997 study later linked neural tube defects to microwave radiation in the same frequency range she was exposed to.
From that moment on, I had no choice. I wasn’t just an “activist” or a “business person.” I was a father whose child was taken under circumstances I believed were preventable. Every day, every innovation I’ve pursued, and every conversation I join, is shaped by that promise and the vivid memory of what I lost to ignorance I once shared with the world.
Why I “Flip Tables” (Digitally)
The Gospels tell the story of Jesus flipping over the money changers’ tables in the temple. His was a righteous anger, one sparked by seeing what he saw as an abuse of sacred space.
In my own way, I see misinformation about EMF risks as an abuse of our collective pursuit of truth—especially when children’s health is at stake.
When I speak out strongly online, I’m metaphorically flipping “money tables” in hopes all that witness it can learn from this righteous anger for us to remain true to our mission.
I realize this approach can appear harsh or even combative. But when your motivation stems from a promise made in the final moments of your child’s life, it changes how you respond to what you believe is dangerous misinformation.
The EMF Guy and Our Conversation
So why did I target the EMF Hazards Summit so aggressively?
Because I saw statements and marketing tactics that I believed could discourage the real solution:
Moving away from microwaves and into what I call the Light Age—a future in which Li-Fi (light-based communication) can replace or drastically reduce harmful RF emissions.
After listening to a podcast with Nick Pineault, a.k.a. “The EMF Guy,” dangerously downplaying Li-Fi and suggesting it might be as harmful as microwaves—which is scientifically baseless—it raised red flags for me.
After my heated online exchange with a few on X about this, Nick called my cell phone number, which was easily found online.
We had a frank phone call in which I explained my position, my background, and the reasons I’m so outspoken—having already dropped the F-bomb several times.
To his credit, he listened. He acknowledged aspects of his marketing and messaging that might misrepresent Li-Fi or hinder its adoption within the EMF safety community.
He even suggested making some corrections, including editing certain content that could cast Li-Fi in an unfairly negative light.
Why I Took Down My Posts
Once I realized Nick was willing to address these errors, I decided that the goal had been met.
My posts, while intentionally jarring, were meant to provoke honest dialogue and a course correction—and that’s exactly what happens if the misinformation is corrected.
I don’t thrive on conflict, and I’m certainly not out to cancel anyone.
I’m here to ensure that the potential harm of misinformation is minimized. In short:
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✅ Mission Accomplished: The EMF Guy saw where his approach could mislead people and promised to make changes with video edits.
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✅ A Willingness to Listen: He showed good faith in hearing my perspective, and I believe he wants to make an honest living doing good things by striving to provide truthful information. As he demonstrated, offering to make edits to his videos because the truth did matter, so he proclaimed.
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✅ Not About Likes or Followers: I don’t do this to build a social media audience or sell products. My motivation is—and always has been—fulfilling a promise to fight the ignorance that harms our children.
Once the issue was addressed, I removed my critical posts to focus on progress, not grudges.
Addressing Legal & Ethical Concerns
Another point I brought up with Nick is the legal and ethical line between featuring an outspoken citizen and featuring an appointed government official, especially in a gated “email capture” scenario.
When marketing materials use the title or image of a U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services—or even someone portrayed as such—it can create confusion or an implied endorsement.
I encouraged him to remove the banner referencing HHS, or at the very least, clearly state that there is no official HHS endorsement of the summit’s recommendations.
I believe transparency is paramount to maintaining trust and integrity—especially around public health issues.
Few Are Willing to Confront Misinformation
There are respected researchers and advocates in EMF safety—people like Louis Slesin of Microwave News, Joel Moskowitz at UC Berkeley, and many other pioneering scientists.
They do great work, but they’re often not in a position—or simply choose not—to openly confront peers who are misleading or under-informed.
Their role is typically more measured, providing objective data rather than wading into confrontations.
I, on the other hand, feel compelled to speak up because I see it as my moral responsibility to protect others from preventable harm.
When you’ve lived three decades with the searing memory of a child lost, you can’t just watch quietly if someone undermines the path to a safer future.
Every day, I work tirelessly for the mission of RF Safe; it’s not a happy place; it’s a place driven by the worst pain you can imagine.
Her last moments of life are burned into my mind forever—inescapable when your daily mission is preventing others from the same fate for a quarter century straight.
RF Safe has been a beacon of Truth and physics-based innovation amidst this decades-long EMF saga.
Toward the Light Age
Humanity has spent over a century embracing technologies that, while innovative, DO carry hidden costs—especially in the realm of radio and microwave emissions.
But I genuinely believe we’re close to a significant transition.
The more we develop and refine Li-Fi and other light-based communication systems, the more feasible it becomes to minimize our reliance on microwave emissions.
My role in this shift is to invent, patent, and help implement solutions that genuinely reduce EMF exposure—to fight what took my baby girl.
Maybe I’m not a uniting voice, but I am a voice of truth that can see the path forward, which is laid out on the front page of RF Safe.
By uniting researchers, policymakers, technology developers, and the broader public, we can transition from the “microwave age” to the “Light Age.”
It won’t happen overnight, but every conversation, every correction, and every innovation moves us closer.
Wrapping It Up
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📌 I Deleted My Posts: Not because I changed my beliefs, but because my confrontation achieved its purpose—encouraging someone influential in the EMF space to rethink a misleading stance.
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📌 I Act Strongly: My motivation is anchored in a day I will never forget, and I simply don’t have the luxury of responding “calmly” when misinformation could cost more lives.
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📌 I Believe in Redemption: I don’t think the EMF Guy or anyone else in the EMF safety community is inherently bad because I point out a misalignment with progress. Sometimes, they just need a firm push to see where they’re mistaken.
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📌 I’m Committed: To ensuring that we pursue true solutions, not watered-down half measures, because every child’s life matters.
I share all this so you’ll understand the heart behind my actions.
My aggression comes from a place of love—for the child I lost and the children I’m trying to protect.
I truly believe the future lies in the Light Age, and I’ll keep flipping tables and making noise anytime I see someone obstructing that path.
Thank you for reading and for your understanding.
—John Coates, Founder of RF Safe
A father forever driven by a promise and a believer in a brighter, healthier future for our children.