Elon Musk has reinstated the X accounts of the notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his media outlet
Elon Musk, known for his unfiltered communication style, conducted a user poll on X on December 9, seeking input on the appropriateness of bringing back Alex Jones. With nearly 2 million users participating, around 70% voted in favor of reinstating Jones’ account. Musk promptly acted on the poll results, reactivating Jones’ account shortly after the poll concluded. Simultaneously, the Infowars account was also reinstated.
Infowars. This move comes after both accounts were indefinitely banned from Twitter in 2018 due to violations of the platform’s rules and the dissemination of abusive content.
Engaging with users during and after the poll, Elon Musk expressed agreement with a comment highlighting concerns about permanent account bans conflicting with the principles of free speech. “I find it hard to disagree with this point,” Elon Musk remarked. In response to apprehensions about misinformation, Elon Musk pointed to Community Notes, assuring users that the platform’s corrective measures would swiftly address any problematic posts by Jones.
Alex Jones gained infamy for promoting unfounded conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, which claimed 28 lives. Legal repercussions followed, with a Connecticut court ordering Jones to pay $1.5 billion in damages last year for falsely asserting that the shooting was staged.
Musk’s decision to reinstate Jones and Infowars accounts coincides with X facing challenges in retaining major advertisers. Companies like Apple, Disney, and IBM withdrew their ad spending after Musk’s controversial remarks, including endorsing an antisemitic theory as the “actual truth.” Despite Musk’s subsequent apology, he strongly criticized advertisers during the DealBook conference, bluntly telling them to “go fuck yourself.”
The reinstatement of Jones and Infowars accounts raises concerns among advertisers and those vigilant against hate speech on the platform. Responding to a user’s query about potential financial ramifications, Musk acknowledged the risk but underscored that principles take precedence over monetary considerations.
Since assuming control of X, Musk has reinstated various controversial figures, including singer Kanye West, former U.S. President Donald Trump, far-right influencer Andrew Tat, and right-wing academic Jordan Peterson. This trend fuels ongoing debates about free speech, accountability, and the platform’s financial sustainability.
