A widely circulated myth makes the claim that Bill Gates is using COVID-19 vaccinations to implant trackable microchips within the population.
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The Conspiracy
The conspiracy makes the claim that Bill Gates is using Covid-19 vaccinations to implant trackable microchips within the population
Origins of the Conspiracy
Myths regarding vaccinations, such as their association with autism, have circulated widely in recent years. Such conspiratorial thinking has fuelled further conspiracies regarding COVID-19 vaccinations.
Bill Gates is both a major champion and co-founder of COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He made his fortune as the co-founder of Microsoft. His connections both to technology and vaccine development have amplified the conspiracy.
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A YouGov poll conducted in the United States in May 2020 found that approximately 28% of Americans believed that Bill Gates was planning to use vaccines to implant microchips in people’s arms (approximately 44% of Republicans said they believed this conspiracy).
This conspiracy theory originated from an interview with Bill Gates in March of 2020:
During this interview, Mr Gates alluded to there eventually being some type of digital certification that would be used to track who has been tested, who has had a recorded case, and who has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
There was no mention of a microchip, however, an article was published titled "Bill Gates will use microchip implants to fight coronavirus.”
The article made reference to a study conducted by The Gates Foundation into a special ink technology that could store vaccination records.
The conspiracy theory has been exacerbated by religious extremists. Some evangelical churches and Christian influencers with large online followings have linked the COVID-19 vaccine (and the microchip conspiracy) to the ‘mark of the beast’ - referring to a passage from the Book of Revelation which states that the “Antichrist will test Christians by asking them to put a mark on their bodies”.
The power and influence that the Gates Foundation has amassed over the years in the global health arena additionally contributes to the spread of such conspiracy theories. As a highly visible and enormously wealthy private foundation focused on technological advancements in areas such as health, education, and agriculture, the projects heralded by the foundation have been subject to conspiracy theories that are linked to technology.
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The facts
Ana Jaklenec, a scientist who took part in the aforementioned study about ink technology funded by the Gates Foundation clarified that what was being researched is not a microchip but more like an invisible tattoo. It would not track an individual, nor would an individual's information be stored in a database. Ultimately, this technology has not been rolled out and is not in use.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made the following statement: "The reference to 'digital certificates' relates to efforts to create an open-source digital platform with the goal of expanding access to safe, home-based testing."
In an interview with CBS, Mr Gates was asked "To be clear, do you want a vaccine so that you can implant microchips into people?" to which he responded "No. There's no connection between any of these vaccines and any tracking type thing at all. I don't know where that came from."
Video via CBSN