Lighthouse Journalism came across a post being widely shared by users on the social media platforms. The post claimed that Bill Gates has joined forces with the World Health Organization in calling for vaccine refusers to be rounded up by the military and force-jabbed with mRNA during the next pandemic. Some posts are accompanied with an article published on the platform The People’s Voice. Other social media users are sharing the screenshot of the same article along with viral claims. During the investigation we found the claim to be false.
Claim:
X user Jim Ferguson, shared the claim on his profile.
Check the archive version of the post here.
Other users too are sharing similar claims.
Investigation:
We started the investigation by checking if there are other credible media organisations that have carried the same report.
We did not find any such article stating the same.
World Health Organization in a response to this misinformation on social media platforms said:
First, it must be stressed that these claims are both flagrant lies and dangerous pieces of disinformation. Cynical and harmful claims such as these on science and health are escalating and can impact decisions people make to protect and promote their health, and that of their families.
Second, WHO is a scientific and technical organization established and led by its 194 Member governments. WHO provides technical advice and support to these Member States. It is sovereign Member States who make decisions and take actions concerning health for their populations. It is a malicious falsehood and lie to claim that WHO has proposed any involvement of the military as mentioned in these baseless allegations, nor does WHO have the ability to impose vaccinate mandates. These claims are simply not true.
WHO’s Director of Communications, Gabby Stern posted on X about the same.
She said, “This is a lie, a dangerous one. It’s a tragedy that lies about science and health are pushed so wantonly while people try their best to make considered decisions about their health and their family’s health. Social media and news media platforms continue amplifying lies like this – we are seeing them again this weekend but we see them every day, all day. This cynical practice has contributed to a horrifying decline in childhood immunizations around the world – the result of which is the spread of terrible, preventable diseases like measles among children. Please stop the lies, please endeavor to be part of a considered conversation about science and health. Your children and mine deserve nothing less.“
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Director ai Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention too posted on X.
She said, “I am working directly on H5N1 with incredible scientists from all around the world. Lies are spreading on social media. WHO has no power to detain anyone. Claims that WHO is working with governments to do this are false and dangerous.“
We then ran the website through ‘Stopaganda Plus’ a chrome extension that shows bias and accuracy of a website.
Through this we found out that the bias of The People’s Voice is FAKE and accuracy is VERY LOW. This implies that the website is not credible.
Conclusion: Claims stating Bill Gates and WHO is calling for the military to round up those who refused vaccines is fake. Viral claims are false.
