Gates built a close relationship with Epstein over years (and knowing what he was convicted for), while on the other hand Gates Foundation worked to address human trafficking. Philanthropy is a cheap way to launder reputation without engaging with real powers at play.
>Over the years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had poured millions of dollars into anti–sex trafficking groups, among many other causes, including $5 million to the evangelical group International Justice Mission, which is perhaps most known for conducting dramatic brothel raids in Southeast Asia. At the time, international sex workers’ rights groups condemned the grant and IJM, but nearly no one else drew attention to the traumatic arrests and threats of deportations alleged by sex workers whose workplaces were raided.
Gates Foundation targeted workers and clients while Gates used an actual trafficker to help build his own reputation, hoping Epstein would help help himself to the Nobel prize. This is typically neoliberal philanthropy - address the worst effects (through surveillance tech for cops at that) without addressing the structural problem. Let's not get too excited about a billionaire technocrat's repentance.
> What is noteworthy is how he has used his wealth in his philanthropic efforts to eradicate disease and suffering. That deserves kudos.
Well, yeah, kind of... But what is also at least as noteworthy is how he got that wealth. His philanthropy since he retired has only begun to make up for the stifling hand his evil empire laid over computing for decades.
> Unpopular opinion but even if you are a Bill Gates, I don’t think there is anything of substance about his technological innovation.
I don't understand the downvotes here. In 100 years or so, practically no one is going to remember that Bill Gates created a shitty operating system back in the 20th century, but there will probably be statues of him around the world for his philanthropic work.
The most philanthropic thing he could do would be to go back in time and undo everything he's done in his life. Which is basically enrich himself at the expense of everyone else, causing trillions of hours of human lives to be wasted dealing with his broken dogshit product. Donating some money to some stupid organization with his name on it now doesn't make it better.
When you comment anything that goes against the hacker fantasy… that all of a sudden the world discovers a genius amongst his github code and throws money and awards at him out of good will to honor his genius as if he was the next donald knuth or something then prepare to get downvoted.
What is noteworthy is how he has used his wealth in his philanthropic efforts to eradicate disease and suffering. That deserves kudos.