Coronavirus: why Bill Gates is the bogeyman of conspiracy theorists
- Dozens of anti-Gates rumours have circulated online since start of Covid-19 crisis
- One popular theory is that Gates wants to eliminate 15 per cent of the global population
False claims targeting billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates are gaining traction online since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, with experts warning they could hamper efforts to curb the virus.
Doctored photos and fabricated news articles crafted by conspiracy theorists – shared thousands of times on social media platforms and messaging apps, in various languages – have gone as far as accusing the Microsoft founder of creating the outbreak.
Gates, who has pledged US$250 million to efforts to fight the pandemic, is the latest in a string of online targets despite the World Health Organisation’s efforts to fight what it called an “infodemic” – misinformation fanned by panic and confusion about the virus.
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“Bill Gates has always been a target of specific conspiracy communities,” said Rory Smith, research manager at First Draft, a non-profit that provides research and training for journalists.