Elon Musk wants to block the transfer of InfoWars’ X accounts to The Onion

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The Onion, a satirical publication, He won the bankruptcy auction Earlier this month to purchase conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ website, InfoWars and other related assets. However, that sale is now in limbo after a federal judge temporarily halted the deal.

On Monday, Elon Musk threw another spanner in the works, objecting to the transfer of InfoWars X accounts to their new owners.

X Corporation widely claims to own all X accounts on its platform, including accounts run by Alex Jones and InfoWars, according to a report. The objection was filed on Monday In bankruptcy court. Therefore, Elon Musk’s platform argues that The Onion cannot buy these accounts from Jones or his company Free Speech Systems, because they are not his to sell.

This isn’t the first time Musk has stepped in to defend Jones’ social media presence. Back in 2023, Elon Musk restored Alex Jones and InfoWars’ X accounts. These accounts were “permanently banned” by Twitter’s previous leadership in 2018, after their posts were found to contain offensive content that violated the platform’s rules. Musk said at the time that he disagreed with Jones, but wanted his accounts restored in the name of “freedom of expression.”

Musk’s lawyers are now claiming that users do not actually own their profiles on the supposed “free speech platform.”

“A ‘sale’ of X’s accounts at the request of the trustee would amount to an unlawful transfer of the license to use X Corp’s services. Such a sale would clearly violate “Other, the trustee seeks to sell something that neither Free Speech Systems nor Jones owns or has any legal interest in.”

This legal filing clearly states that Company X does not object to the overall sale of The Onion’s free speech systems, but only to X’s accounts. The accounts mentioned in the case are @infowars, @BANNEDdotVIDEO, @WarRoomShow, and @RealAlexJones.

Musk’s social media platform claims its terms of service make clear that these accounts are the “exclusive property” of X Corporation. in Section 4In fact, the company says it gives all users a “license” to use their X accounts. However, users cannot sell or transfer this license without the express consent of X.

Jones declared bankruptcy after being ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to the families of the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He ordered payment Damages for defamation after repeatedly publishing falsehoods The 2012 shooting, which killed 20 first-graders and six teachers, was a hoax orchestrated by actors to increase gun control.

While Musk is fighting the transfer of these X accounts, federal bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said Monday that he may An evidentiary hearing will be held next month To determine whether The Onion should be allowed to purchase Alex Jones’ media company.

Ultimately, Lopez could allow The Onion to move forward with the purchase, request a new auction, or name another bidder as the winner.

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