A video viewed thousands of times on social media features a quote from Bill Gates about alleged “sterilization and population control.” The clip shows a person saying: “According to Bill Gates, at least 3 billion people need to die.” However, Reuters has found no evidence that Gates made such a statement.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed to Reuters via email that the claim made in the video is false.
This video was posted on January 25th. Instagram and was viewed more than 500 thousand times, in just 3 days. The same video was also shared on TikTok, Facebook and Youtube.
The viral video does not feature Bill Gates at all, but a person identified as "Dr. Robert O. Young" who is allegedly quoting Gates during a panel titled the "International Tribunal for Natural Justice," a group that has been spreading conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, reports say. MEDIA.
In the video that is circulating in the media, Young says: "For the purpose of sterilization and population control, there are a lot of people on the planet that we need to get rid of. In the words of Bill Gates, at least three billion people need to die." https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5583&v=gKjnEz5s37o&feature=youtu.be
Reuters has found no evidence that Gates has made any such statement. A Google search for this claim turned up fact-checking articles that debunk the claim and articles that address how Gates has been a target of disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Full article by Reuters in English)