Elon Musk Blocks The Onion’s Acquisition of Infowars’ X Accounts
The Onion, a renowned satirical publication, recently won a bankruptcy auction to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars platform and related assets. However, the deal hit a roadblock after a federal judge temporarily paused the transaction—and Elon Musk has now escalated the conflict by opposing the transfer of Infowars’ X accounts to The Onion.
X Corp’s Legal Objection: Who Owns Social Media Accounts?
In a court filing submitted Monday, X Corporation argued that it retains ownership of all accounts on its platform, including those operated by Alex Jones and Infowars. Musk’s legal team contends that The Onion cannot purchase these accounts because neither Jones nor his company, Free Speech Systems, actually owns them.
Key accounts in question:
- @infowars
- @BANNEDdotVIDEO
- @WarRoomShow
- @RealAlexJones
X Corp’s lawyers stated: “The ‘sale’ of the X Accounts would violate X Corp.’s Terms of Service and ownership rights. The Trustee is attempting to sell assets that belong to X, not Jones.”
Musk’s History with Alex Jones and Free Speech
This isn’t Musk’s first intervention on behalf of Jones. In 2023, he reinstated Jones’ X accounts after they were permanently banned in 2018 for violating Twitter’s policies. Musk defended the move as a free speech decision, despite disagreeing with Jones’ views.
Legal Battle Over Digital Asset Ownership
X Corp’s Terms of Service (Section 4) clarify that users receive a license to operate accounts but cannot transfer or sell them without explicit consent. This raises broader questions about digital ownership—do users truly control their social media profiles, or are they merely borrowing space on corporate platforms?
Background: Alex Jones’ Bankruptcy and Sandy Hook Fallout
Jones filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay $1.5 billion in damages to families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Courts ruled he defamed them by falsely claiming the 2012 tragedy—which killed 20 children and 6 educators—was a hoax. The Onion’s bid for Infowars emerged from the ensuing asset liquidation.
What’s Next? A Pivotal Court Decision
Federal bankruptcy judge Christopher Lopez may hold an evidentiary hearing in December to determine whether The Onion can proceed with the purchase. Potential outcomes include:
- Approving the sale to The Onion
- Ordering a new auction
- Selecting an alternative buyer
This case could set a precedent for how digital assets are treated in bankruptcy proceedings—and who truly owns social media accounts: users or platforms.
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