Elon Musk reinstates Alex Jones’ X account
OAN’s James Meyers
2:05 PM – Monday, December 11, 2023
After five years of being banned on X, current Chairman and CTO Elon Musk has restored the X account of known conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones.
The move was done on Saturday by the Tesla CEO, after announcing he would post a poll on whether or not users supported Jones’ return to the site.
Jones and his company InfoWars were kicked off, in what was announced as a permanent ban from Twitter, the platforms former name, in 2018.
“Reinstate Alex Jones on this platform?” Musk wrote, alongside “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” — a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” and the results of the poll showed that 70% of respondents supported the restoration of Jones’ account.
“The people have spoken and so it shall be,” Musk added.
Musk bought Twitter at the end of 2022 in a $44 billion deal. Since then, he has restored several accounts that were banned under previous ownership, such as the accounts of Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and former President Donald Trump.
However, critics are calling out Musk for going back on his word.
He claimed last year that he would not reinstate Jones’ account on X. Musk said, “No,” to requests for Jones to come back and wrote in a November 2022 post, “My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.”
Jones is known for saying the shooting at Sandy Hook was a “hoax.” As a result of his statement, Jones has faced multiple defamation lawsuits and has been ordered to pay upwards of $1 billion to the victims’ families, which left 26 people dead.
Additionally, in another post on X shared by Musk on Saturday, Musk said “I vehemently disagree with what he said about Sandy Hook, but are we a platform that believes in freedom of speech or are we not?”
“That is what it comes down to in the end. If people vote him back on, this will be bad for X financially, but principles matter more than money,” he wrote.
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What are the implications of Elon Musk’s decision in the ongoing debate between freedom of speech and platform responsibility
Title: Elon Musk Restores Alex Jones’ Account on X, Sparking Controversy
Introduction:
In a surprising move, Elon Musk, current Chairman and CTO of X, has restored the account of controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. This decision has reignited the debate on freedom of speech versus platform responsibility and has drawn criticism from those who remember Musk’s previous commitment to not reinstate Jones’ account. This article will explore the details of this decision and its implications.
Background:
Alex Jones, the founder of InfoWars, was permanently banned from Twitter (formerly known as X) in 2018 due to spreading conspiracy theories and causing emotional and psychological harm to the families of victims in the Sandy Hook massacre. Since then, Jones has been facing multiple defamation lawsuits and has been ordered to pay large sums to the victims’ families.
Elon Musk’s Decision:
On Saturday, Elon Musk, who acquired X in a $44 billion deal in 2022, reinstated Alex Jones’ account on the platform after announcing a poll to gauge users’ support for Jones’ return. The poll results showed that 70% of respondents favored the restoration of Jones’ account. Musk expressed his decision with the Latin phrase, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Controversy and Criticism:
Musk’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from those who question his consistency and commitment to his previous statements. Last year, Musk firmly stated that he would not reinstate Jones’ account on X. He even shared a personal experience, mentioning the loss of his own child and condemning anyone who would exploit the deaths of children for personal gain or fame. Many see Musk’s reversal as a betrayal of his own principles.
Freedom of Speech vs. Platform Responsibility:
Musk defended his decision by presenting a dilemma: should X be a platform that believes in freedom of speech or should it prioritize its financial interests? While vehemently disagreeing with Jones’ views on Sandy Hook, Musk argued that principles matter more than money. This raises significant questions about the responsibilities of online platforms in curating content and the delicate balance between safeguarding free speech and preventing the spread of harmful misinformation.
Conclusion:
Elon Musk’s decision to reinstate Alex Jones’ account on X has sparked controversy and raised important questions about freedom of speech and platform responsibility. Critics argue that Musk’s actions contradict his previous statements, while others perceive it as a strong commitment to free speech. The outcome of this decision will determine whether X’s financial interests outweigh its principles and whether online platforms are willing to take a stand in the face of controversial content.
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