If you thought your X (formerly Twitter) account was yours to own and control, think again. According to a recent court filing by Elon Musk’s social media company, X insists that users don’t actually own their accounts.
This surprising claim emerged in a legal battle involving The Onion’s recent purchase of InfoWars, the conspiracy theory platform founded by Alex Jones, currently being liquidated to pay off a $1.4 billion defamation judgment.
X’s legal stand: Accounts belong to the platform
X’s argument centres on the notion that user accounts are inherently tied to the services they provide, not the users themselves. In the court filing, X argued that while users retain ownership of the content they post, the accounts themselves remain under X’s control. This distinction, the company claims, prevents accounts from being sold, assigned, or transferred without X’s consent, even as part of the bankruptcy process.
The issue arose after The Onion purchased InfoWars’ accounts during an auction of Jones’ assets, approved to help compensate the families affected by his defamatory statements about the Sandy Hook tragedy. However, X’s intervention could block the sale, asserting that Jones and his associated entities only had a non-transferable license to use the platform, not ownership of the accounts themselves.
A precedent in social media?
While X’s stance isn’t entirely out of step with standard social media policies—most platforms retain overarching control over user accounts—it raises questions about consistency. Social media accounts are often transferred during corporate transactions, such as when brands or companies are sold. Musk himself previously considered reassigning NPR’s X handle during a dispute over labelling the media organisation as state-affiliated.
The timing of X’s argument is raising eyebrows, with critics noting Musk’s past reluctance to reinstate Alex Jones on the platform. Musk initially banned Jones, citing his personal connection to the tragedy of losing a child. Yet Jones was later reinstated, and now Musk appears to be actively aiding Jones by challenging the Sandy Hook families’ approved liquidation of InfoWars.
The bigger picture: Musk’s principles and influence
The legal wrangling comes amid broader scrutiny of Musk’s influence on X and its alignment with far-right voices. Musk, who has donated significant sums to Donald Trump and other conservative figures, seems increasingly willing to wield X as a political tool. Critics suggest this latest move aligns with Musk’s larger pattern of protecting those within his ideological sphere, even when it contradicts his previous public stances.
For users, the case serves as a stark reminder of the limits of control over their digital identities. While X’s legal argument may not be entirely new in the tech world, its implications are unsettling, illustrating the extent to which platforms—not individuals—dictate ownership and usage in the digital age.
