Bill Gates Admits Misinformation One of Internet’s Biggest Problems, Says He Was “Too Naive”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has acknowledged that his initial vision for how people would use computers and the internet was overly optimistic, admitting he underestimated humanity’s capacity to spread misinformation online.

In a candid interview with CNBC Make It, Gates reflected on his earlier assumptions, saying he had been “too naive” in believing that most people would use technology primarily for productive and responsible purposes.

“Misinformation is the one where I, a little bit, had to punt and say, ‘OK, we’ve handed this problem to the younger generation,'” Gates said, suggesting that solving the crisis of online falsehoods will fall to those who have grown up in the digital age.

The tech pioneer revealed that a personal conversation with his daughter Phoebe Gates provided an eye-opening perspective on the real-world impacts of online toxicity. Phoebe, who co-founded the AI shopping tool Phia, shared her experiences of online harassment and how similar incidents affected her friends.

“Hearing my daughter talk about how she’d been harassed online, and how her friends experienced that quite a bit, brought that into focus in a way that I hadn’t thought about before,” Gates explained, highlighting how even someone at the forefront of the digital revolution had failed to anticipate certain negative consequences of the technologies he helped popularize.

In a separate interview with The Information last year, Phoebe Gates spoke candidly about being the subject of “misconceptions and conspiracy theories” regarding her family and personal relationships, including being “memed for being in an interracial relationship.” Her experiences underscore how even the children of public figures aren’t immune to targeted online harassment.

Gates, who has himself been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, offered insight into why misinformation spreads so rapidly online. He pointed to confirmation bias – the tendency for people to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs – as a key driver.

“We have context where we want correct information, like hopefully when we want medical advice,” Gates explained. “But then we kind of like, in our community and enclave, have these shared views that kind of pull us together.”

In a moment of self-awareness, Gates admitted that even he is susceptible to these tendencies. “Even I will wallow. Let’s say there’s a politician I don’t like, and there’s some article online criticizing him a little bit. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s such a good critique, [and] I enjoyed reading it, even if it was exaggerated,'” he confessed.

When it comes to solutions, Gates expressed uncertainty about effective approaches to combat the spread of misinformation. He acknowledged the delicate balance between protecting free speech and preventing harmful content.

“We should have free speech. But if you’re inciting violence, if you’re causing people not to take vaccines, where are those boundaries?” Gates asked. “Even the U.S. should have rules, and then if you have rules, what is it? Is it some AI that encodes those rules? You have billions in activity, and if you catch it a day later the harm is done.”

The billionaire philanthropist’s comments come at a time when social media platforms are under increasing scrutiny for their role in amplifying false information. Tech companies like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Google have implemented various content moderation systems with mixed results, while governments worldwide are exploring regulatory frameworks to address the issue.

Gates’ admission represents a significant evolution in his thinking about technology’s societal impact, moving from the optimistic view that defined much of the early internet era to a more nuanced understanding of how digital tools can be misused to spread falsehoods and cause real harm.