Popular satire website 'The Onion' is being acquired by US online platform Infowars, famous for spreading conspiracy theories and fake information. It's funny but true. The platform lost a defamation case of Rs 150 crore for misleading information. Unable to pay compensation, it was auctioned. In a statement on Thursday, The Onion announced the acquisition of Infowars.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones ran the site called 'Infowars'. It has been closed due to bankruptcy. The Onion says it will buy the site to stem the 'flow of misleading information' and promote 'less malicious misinformation'.
According to Reuters, it is not known how much Jones' site was sold for. But the purchase would require approval from Houston's bankruptcy court. According to The Onion, the site plans to reopen by January 2024, subject to court approval.
US Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Lopez said, 'There are questions about the transparency of the auction. But I am not worried about who won the auction. I want the process to be valid.'
Founded in 1999, InfoWars is notorious for spreading right-wing conspiracy theories and disinformation. The platform claimed that the September 9 (9/11) attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001 and the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting were planned and orchestrated.
Several families affected by the Sandy Hook attack supported The Onion after buying Infowars at auction. They say that under The Onion, Infowars will stop spreading misinformation.
In 2022, Alex Jones filed for bankruptcy protection for his company. At that time, a defamation case was filed by the families of 20 people killed in the Sandy Hook attack. Jones was ordered to pay Rs 150 crore in compensation in that case. In this situation, Jones was forced to sell Infowars at auction to meet financial compensation.
Robbie Parker, a family member of one of the victims of the Sandy Hook attack, said, 'Having a platform does not mean that he is above responsibility. Justice has been served through the liquidation of Jones's estate and the auction of Infowars.'
Jones said he would continue to promote 'conspiracy theories' from various platforms despite selling the site. However, most mainstream social media and podcast platforms—such as YouTube, Facebook, and Apple—banned him five years ago.
But Elon Musk-owned X allowed Jones to return to its platform last year.
According to court rulings in Connecticut and Texas, Jones 'intentionally' defamed the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook attack. Even if he is insolvent, he will be liable to pay the compensation.
