Conspiracy theories thriving online accuse Bill Gates of starting the virus outbreak

Paris: 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.