The Onion’s recent purchase of Alex Jones’ InfoWars website is facing a legal challenge. X Corp (formerly Twitter) has filed an objection to the transfer of InfoWars’ X accounts, citing its Terms of Service which prohibit the sale or transfer of accounts without explicit consent.
A legal battle surrounding the sale of Alex Jones’ InfoWars accounts reveals X’s assertion that users do not own their accounts, sparking debate about digital ownership and platform control. This surprising claim raises concerns about user rights and the potential for political manipulation of the platform.
A US judge has approved the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ personal assets to partially repay the $1.5 billion in damages he owes families affected by the Sandy Hook school shooting. However, the parent company of his far-right website InfoWars, known for spreading misinformation, was spared liquidation and will remain in operation. Despite declaring personal bankruptcy in Texas, Jones’ latest court filings reveal his private assets are valued at approximately $9 million. The ruling allows Jones to convert his personal bankruptcy case into a straightforward liquidation, which will distribute a small portion of the damages awarded to the victims’ families. Jones’ personal assets, including a $2.8 million Texas ranch, will be sold to settle his debts. Experts highlight the financial incentives for content creators to spread conspiratorial material and the challenge of curbing misinformation online.
The Gateway Pundit, a website known for promoting falsehoods and conspiracy theories, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to multiple defamation lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that the website spread false claims about election fraud in the 2020 presidential election, resulting in harassment and harm to election workers. The bankruptcy filing follows a similar move by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who filed for bankruptcy after Sandy Hook families were awarded over $1 billion in damages against him. The Gateway Pundit’s owner, Jim Hoft, blamed “progressive liberal lawfare attacks” but admitted no wrongdoing. Attorneys representing former election workers expressed concern that the bankruptcy could delay and potentially derail their pursuit of justice and compensation.
