I immediately disagreed with the opening claim. That conspiracy theories are just alternative viewpoints. I think there are distinct differences. Alternative viewpoints are perfectly respectable. Conspiracy theories are not, often having no evidence in support at all. So I questioned Google. It agrees, saying this:-
“Conspiracy theories are often framed as alternative viewpoints, but they are technically distinguished from simple alternative views by their reliance on secret plots by powerful groups, lack of evidence, and resistance to being disproven.
While they can, in rare instances, be true (e.g., Watergate), most are considered irrational, unproven, and often fanciful alternatives to mainstream accounts.
Here is a breakdown of why they are distinct from typical alternative viewpoints:
1. Lack of Evidence and Falsifiability