In early 2020, the theory that COVID-19 may have originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology was censored on social media platforms, labeled 'debunked conspiracy theory' by major media, and dismissed by a group of scientists in The Lancet — organized by Peter Daszak, who funded WIV research. By 2023, the DOE (with 'low confidence') and FBI (with 'moderate confidence') assessed a lab leak as the most likely origin. The Lancet letter was revealed to have been orchestrated to suppress debate. EcoHealth Alliance was debarred in 2024 for grant violations related to WIV funding.