A screenshot of a headline shared on Facebook claims Japanese prosecutors are working to arrest Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.

Verdict: False

The claim is false and originally stems from a Nov. 27 article published on “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.” Additionally, a spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Gates reportedly made a private donation to 2024 Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, according to an October article from the New York Times. Gates also privately expressed concerns over a second Donald Trump presidency, the outlet reported.

The Facebook screenshot claims Japanese prosecutors are working to arrest Gates.

“Japanese Prosecutors Working to Arrest Bill Gates for Crimes Against Humanity During Pandemic,” the purported headline reads.

The claim is false and originally stems from a Nov. 27 article published on “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.” A “Liability Disclaimer” included on the site’s “Terms of Use” page indicates it “makes no representations about the suitability, reliability, availability, timeliness, and accuracy of the information, software, products, services and related graphics contained on the site for any purpose.”

The site, which has previously been known as “NewsPunch” and “YourNewsWire,” is described as “one of the most well-known purveyors of fake news online,” according to a 2019 article from Mashable.

While the article claims Japanese prosecutors are working to arrest Gates, it does not provide any evidence to support that claim. In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any evidence suggesting that Kyoto University Professor Emeritus Masanori Fukushima said the “time for mincing words is over” in relation to Gates, as the article purports. (RELATED: Video Announcing Trump’s Plan To Annex Canada Is AI-Generated)

Likewise, Gates does not appear to have publicly referenced the claim on his official website or his verified social media accounts.

Check Your Fact also did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 5, Logically Facts debunked the claim, tracing its origin to “The People’s Voice.”

Furthermore, a spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“To your inquiry, this claim is false,” the same spokesperson said.