The claim: Microsoft developing microchip to hold vaccination status, trials start in July

A new theory has gained traction among social media users who believe Microsoft is developing a new way to track people's vaccination status.

"Human trials will start this July on a micro-chip implant smaller than a pin-head that will hold your booster status and other information to enable a fast and easy way to access things like shops and events," reads a screenshot of a tweet posted on Facebook on Jan. 16 and shared almost 500 times. "All powered by Microsoft technology."

This is not the first time microchip claims about Microsoft and its founder, Bill Gates, have surfaced online. In June 2020, USA TODAY debunked false claims that Gates was planning to implant microchips in people through the COVID-19 vaccines, which hadn't sought authorization for use at the time.

Much like those, this claim has no basis in fact. The tweet being shared online originated in a parody account, and a spokesperson for Microsoft told USA TODAY the company is not working on developing such a microchip or human trials of it.

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who posted the image for comment.

Tweet posted from parody account

The original tweet, which has now been retweeted over 1,000 times, was posted Jan. 16 from a parody account that mocks Matt Hancock, a member of the U.K. Parliament, according to the Twitter bio of the poster.

When asked about the accuracy of the claims, Microsoft...

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