Elon Musk brings conspiracy theorist Alex Jones back to X following poll

In a recent development on the X platform, entrepreneur Elon Musk has reinstated right-wing American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones following the results of an unscientific poll conducted on the platform. Jones, known for his controversial views and previously ordered to pay significant damages for defaming the families of the Sandy Hook school killings, was welcomed back by approximately 70 percent of respondents.

The decision to restore Jones’s account comes after Musk, portraying himself as a proponent of free speech, initiated a poll on Saturday to gauge users’ opinions on the reinstatement, more than five years after Jones was permanently banned from Twitter for violating its abusive behavior policy. Musk, the billionaire owner of X, acknowledged the majority vote of nearly 2 million respondents with the statement, “The people have spoken, and so it shall be.”

Jones wasted no time in utilizing his renewed platform presence, posting a video teaser highlighting an X Spaces discussion with Musk and influencer Andrew Tate. In the video, Jones emphasized the significance of this event, referring to it as “Renaissance 2.0” and celebrating the victory of free speech over what he termed the “deep state.”

This move by Musk raises questions, as X faces criticism for allegedly amplifying disinformation and extremist content since coming under Musk’s ownership last year. Major brands, including Apple, Disney, IBM, and Lions Gate Entertainment, have departed the platform, citing concerns about the proliferation of hate speech.

X has vehemently denied these accusations, even filing a lawsuit against liberal activist group Media Matters over a report linking major brands’ ads to content supporting Adolf Hitler and Nazis.

Musk’s decision to reinstate Jones contradicts his earlier stance, where he vowed not to allow Jones back on the platform. Musk, who oversees multiple companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, had previously condemned Jones for exploiting the tragedy of the Sandy Hook mass shooting. Despite vehemently disagreeing with Jones’s statements, Musk now frames the decision as a matter of upholding freedom of speech on the platform.

The controversy underscores the ongoing debate over the responsibility of social media platforms in regulating content while respecting the principles of free expression.