In a rare legal move, X Corp (formerly Twitter) has filed an objection to the inclusion of InfoWars’ X accounts in a bankruptcy auction, arguing that the platform owns all user accounts under its terms of service. The objection blocks The Onion’s bid to acquire InfoWars’ assets and raises broader questions about account ownership on corporate social media platforms.
X Corp’s filing asserts that its terms grant users only a license to operate accounts, with X maintaining “superior ownership” rights. This argument contrasts with standard bankruptcy practices where social media accounts are routinely transferred as part of corporate asset sales. The objection comes after a similar case, *Vital Pharm’s bankruptcy*, where courts ruled that a company’s accounts, not its CEO’s personal ownership, were part of its bankruptcy assets.
Alex Jones, the controversial founder of InfoWars, has lauded X’s intervention, framing it as a defense of free speech and alleging conspiratorial motives behind the sale. Meanwhile, critics view X’s move as a political gesture aligned with CEO Elon Musk’s personal interests, pointing to his history of interactions with Jones and his critical stance toward The Onion.
This case underscores the tension between user expectations and corporate control on social media. The stark declaration, “X CORP. OWNS THE X ACCOUNTS,” serves as a reminder that users do not own their social media presence, spotlighting calls for decentralized and user-owned platforms as an alternative to the monopolistic power of tech giants.
