View source for InfoWars

{{Short description|American far-right conspiracy theory and fake news website}}
{{for|the film|Info Wars (film){{!}}''Info Wars'' (film)}}
{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|small=yes}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox website
| name = ''InfoWars''
| logo = Infowars Logo.svg
| logo_size = 125px
| screenshot = InfoWars.com homepage.png
| caption =
| type = {{plainlist|
* [[Fake news]]<ref name="fake news" />
* [[Far-right politics]]<ref name="far-right" />
* [[Conspiracy theories]]<ref name="conspiracy theory" />
}}
| url = infowars.com
| registration = None
| language = English
| owner = Free Speech Systems, LLC
| current_status = Active
| launched = {{start date and age|1999|3|6}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whois.domaintools.com/infowars.com|title=InfoWars.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info–DomainTools|work=[[WHOIS]]|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502180308/http://whois.domaintools.com/infowars.com|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''''InfoWars''''' is an [[Radical right (United States)|American far-right]]{{refn|name=far-right|<ref name="Digital Journalism">{{cite journal |last1=Kaiser |first1=Jonas |last2=Rauchfleisch |first2=Adrian |last3=Bourassa |first3=Nikki |title=Connecting the (Far-)Right Dots: A Topic Modeling and Hyperlink Analysis of (Far-)Right Media Coverage during the US Elections 2016 |journal=Digital Journalism |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |date=15 March 2020 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=2, 6 |doi=10.1080/21670811.2019.1682629|s2cid=211434599  |issn=2167-0811 }}</ref><ref name="Open Information Science">{{cite journal |last1=Chong |first1=Miyoung |title=Discovering fake news embedded in the opposing hashtag activism networks on Twitter: #Gunreformnow vs. #NRA |journal=[[Open Information Science]] |date=1 January 2019 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=147, 150 |doi=10.1515/opis-2019-0010 |doi-access=free |publisher=[[De Gruyter]]}}</ref><ref name="Dark Platforms">{{cite journal |last1=Zeng |first1=Jing |last2=Schäfer |first2=Mike S. |title=Conceptualizing "Dark Platforms". Covid-19-Related Conspiracy Theories on 8kun and Gab |journal=[[Digital Journalism (journal)|Digital Journalism]] |publisher=[[Routledge]] |date=21 October 2021 |volume=9 |issue=9 |pages=1321–1343 |doi=10.1080/21670811.2021.1938165 |doi-access=free |quote=In contrast, Gab users who shared more far-right "fake news" websites are relatively more visible on Gab. Some of the most cited sources under this category include the Unhived Mind (''N'' = 2,729), Epoch Times (''N'' = 1,303), Natural News (''N'' = 1,301), Breitbart (''N'' = 769), the Gateway Pundit (''N'' = 422), and InfoWars (''N'' = 656). }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guglielmi |first1=Giorgia |title=The next-generation bots interfering with the US election |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |date=28 October 2020 |volume=587 |issue=7832 |page=21 |doi=10.1038/d41586-020-03034-5 |pmid=33116324 |bibcode=2020Natur.587...21G |s2cid=226052075 |doi-access= }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Duvall |first1=Spring-Serenity |title=Too Famous to Protest: Far-Right Online Community Bonding Over Collective Desecration of Colin Kaepernick, Fame, and Celebrity Activism |journal=[[Journal of Communication Inquiry]] |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]] |date=July 2020 |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=256–278 |doi=10.1177/0196859920911650|s2cid=216264888 }}</ref><ref name="Mudde">{{cite book |last1=Mudde |first1=Cas |author-link=Cas Mudde |title=The Far Right Today |date=October 25, 2019 |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=978-1-5095-3685-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aD25DwAAQBAJ |access-date=10 October 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028162903/https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/aD25DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Kaiser">{{cite book |last1=Kaiser |first1=Jonas |editor1-last=Forchtner |editor1-first=Bernard |title=The Far Right and the Environment: Politics, Discourse and Communication |date=September 17, 2019 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-351-10402-9 |page=258 |chapter=In the heartland of climate scepticism: A hyperlink network analysis of German climate sceptics and the US right wing}}</ref><ref name="Independent 2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/infowars-leading-brands-youtube-pull-alex-jones-a8239371.html|title=Dozens of leading brands pull ads from far right conspiracy site InfoWars' YouTube channel|last=Oppenheim|first=Maya|date=March 4, 2018|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191457/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/infowars-leading-brands-youtube-pull-alex-jones-a8239371.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/24/sandy-hook-families-sue-infowars-alex-jones-over-conspiracy-theory/641159002/|title=Sandy Hook families suing Alex Jones aren't the only ones to threaten conspiracy theorist|last=Hafner|first=Josh|date=May 24, 2018|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929032647/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/24/sandy-hook-families-sue-infowars-alex-jones-over-conspiracy-theory/641159002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN Business">{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-ads-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|title=Advertisers flee InfoWars founder Alex Jones' YouTube channel|last=Murphy|first=Paul P.|date=March 3, 2018|website=[[CNN Business]]|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613132856/https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-ads-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/13/alex-jones-sued-charlottesville-claims-459244|title=InfoWars, Alex Jones sued for defamation over Charlottesville claims|last=Lima|first=Cristiano|date=March 13, 2018|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807141452/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/13/alex-jones-sued-charlottesville-claims-459244|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/06/03/families-sandy-hook-victims-could-force-alex-jones-admit-his-outrageous-lie/v8XhEH3xdfnMtWNdbsPz0O/story.html|title=Families of Sandy Hook victims could force Alex Jones to admit his outrageous lie|first=Margery|last=Eagan|website=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201719/https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/06/03/families-sandy-hook-victims-could-force-alex-jones-admit-his-outrageous-lie/v8XhEH3xdfnMtWNdbsPz0O/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Erin|last1=Kelly|title=Republicans press social media giants on anti-conservative 'bias' that Dems call 'nonsense'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/17/gop-lawmakers-press-facebook-twitter-anti-conservative-bias/792555002/|website=[[USA Today]]|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329083417/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/17/gop-lawmakers-press-facebook-twitter-anti-conservative-bias/792555002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5294192/tommy-robinson-jailed-trial-roseanne-barr/|title=Why Tommy Robinson Was Jailed, and Why U.S. Rightwingers Care|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|first=Siobhan|last=Morrin|date=May 29, 2018|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615072647/http://time.com/5294192/tommy-robinson-jailed-trial-roseanne-barr/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} [[conspiracy theory]]{{refn|name=conspiracy theory|<ref name="Digital Journalism" /><ref name="Open Information Science" /><ref name="Dark Platforms" /><ref name="Kaiser" /><ref name="Independent 2018" /><ref name="CNN Business" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Van den Bulck |first1=H |last2=Hyzen |first2=A |title=Of lizards and ideological entrepreneurs: Alex Jones and Infowars in the relationship between populist nationalism and the post-global media ecology |journal=[[International Communication Gazette]] |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]] |date=February 2020 |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=42–59 |doi=10.1177/1748048519880726|s2cid=210356506 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rehman |first1=Iskander |title=Rise of the Reactionaries: The American Far Right and U.S. Foreign Policy |journal=[[The Washington Quarterly]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |date=2 October 2017 |volume=40 |issue=4 |page=33 |doi=10.1080/0163660X.2017.1406706|s2cid=158799930 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Winter |first1=Aaron |title=Online Othering |chapter=Online Hate: From the Far-Right to the 'Alt-Right' and from the Margins to the Mainstream |date=2019 |pages=39–63 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-12633-9_2 |chapter-url=http://roar.uel.ac.uk/8132/1/AaronWinterOnlineOtheringFinal.pdf |access-date=October 9, 2020 |publisher=[[Springer International Publishing]] |isbn=978-3-030-12632-2 |s2cid=159264406 |via=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114061212/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332601405_Online_Hate_From_the_Far-Right_to_the_%27Alt-Right%27_and_from_the_Margins_to_the_Mainstream |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DW">{{cite web|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=Trump slams tech firms at 'free speech' social media summit|url=https://www.dw.com/en/trump-slams-tech-firms-at-free-speech-social-media-summit/a-49562637|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=December 7, 2019|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009140054/https://www.dw.com/en/trump-slams-tech-firms-at-free-speech-social-media-summit/a-49562637|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Manufacturing Phobias: The Political Production of Fear in Theory and Practice |last=Shantz |first=Jeff |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4426-2884-7 |pages=231 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O0cpDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA231 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |via=[[Google Books]] |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114061211/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Manufacturing_Phobias/O0cpDAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA231 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Conversation">{{cite web|first1=Joseph|last1=Downing|first2=Richard|last2=Dron|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=Grenfell Tower: how Twitter users fought off fake news to honour Muslim heroes|url=http://theconversation.com/grenfell-tower-how-twitter-users-fought-off-fake-news-to-honour-muslim-heroes-98059|website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]|date=June 13, 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626070250/https://theconversation.com/grenfell-tower-how-twitter-users-fought-off-fake-news-to-honour-muslim-heroes-98059|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Alfred|last1=Ng|first2=Joan E.|last2=Solsman|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=Facebook would rather shush false news than shut it off completely|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/facebooks-infowars-fake-news-alex-jones-problems-arent-going-away/|website=[[CNET]]|date=July 18, 2018|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815201618/https://www.cnet.com/news/facebooks-infowars-fake-news-alex-jones-problems-arent-going-away/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=Google Play Store kicks out right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars app|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/290320/google-play-store-kicks-out-right-wing-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones.html|date=March 29, 2020|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625054129/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/290320/google-play-store-kicks-out-right-wing-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=The Infowars News Director Said He's "Proud" The Site Called The Sandy Hook Shooting A Hoax|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/infowars-news-director-says-sandy-hook-conspiracy-theories|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|first=Brianna|last=Sacks|date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419040857/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/infowars-news-director-says-sandy-hook-conspiracy-theories|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Lost Art of Privacy|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454677/privacy-digital-age-smart-devices-prompt-reconsideration-timeless-virtue|work=[[National Review]]|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=June 22, 2020|first=Heather|last=Wilhelm|archive-date=December 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227173952/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454677/privacy-digital-age-smart-devices-prompt-reconsideration-timeless-virtue|url-status=live}}</ref>}} and [[fake news website]]{{refn|name=fake news|<ref name="Dark Platforms" /><ref name="DW" /><ref name="Conversation" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nelson |first1=Jacob L |last2=Taneja |first2=Harsh |title=The small, disloyal fake news audience: The role of audience availability in fake news consumption |journal=[[New Media & Society]] |date=October 2018 |volume=20 |issue=10 |page=4 |doi=10.1177/1461444818758715 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322820042 |access-date=October 9, 2020 |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |s2cid=52986600 |via=[[ResearchGate]] |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114061213/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322820042_The_Small_Disloyal_Fake_News_Audience_The_Role_of_Audience_Availability_in_Fake_News_Consumption |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Nic|last1=Fleming|title=Coronavirus misinformation, and how scientists can help to fight it|journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]|date=June 17, 2020|volume=583|issue=7814|pages=155–156|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-01834-3|pmid=32601491|bibcode=2020Natur.583..155F|s2cid=256823163 |doi-access=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/avoid-these-fake-news-sites-at-all-costs|title=Avoid These Fake News Sites at All Costs|first=Rachel|last=Dicker|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=June 22, 2020|website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819193514/https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2016-11-14/avoid-these-fake-news-sites-at-all-costs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Scott|last1=Nover|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=The Legal Precedent That Could Protect Jim Acosta's Credentials|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/legality-revoking-jim-acostas-press-pass/575479/|date=November 9, 2018|website=[[The Atlantic]]|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624123650/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/legality-revoking-jim-acostas-press-pass/575479/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=InfoWars' Alex Jones Apologized for His 'Pizzagate' Coverage. He Blamed Other Media for It|url=https://fortune.com/2017/03/25/infowars-alex-jones-pizzagate/|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|first=Aric|last=Jenkins|date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622234738/https://fortune.com/2017/03/25/infowars-alex-jones-pizzagate/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Aja|last1=Romano|access-date=June 22, 2020|title=The 2016 culture war, as illustrated by the alt-right|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/30/13572256/2016-trump-culture-war-alt-right-meme|date=December 30, 2016|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103115/http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/30/13572256/2016-trump-culture-war-alt-right-meme|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NiemanLab">{{cite web|last=Owen|first=Laura Hazard|date=October 26, 2020|title=Older people and Republicans are most likely to share Covid-19 stories from fake news sites on Twitter|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/10/older-people-and-republicans-are-most-likely-to-share-covid-19-stories-from-fake-news-sites-on-twitter/|access-date=2022-06-25|website=[[Nieman Lab]]}}</ref>}} created by [[Alex Jones]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Paranoid Pedagogies: Education, Culture, and Paranoia |last=Sandlin |first=Jennifer |publisher=[[Springer International]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-3-319-64764-7 |pages=170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Drg7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |via=[[Google Books]] |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114061231/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Paranoid_Pedagogies/Drg7DwAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA170 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stone">{{cite news |title=Roger Stone, former Donald Trump adviser, lands InfoWars gig with Alex Jones |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/2/roger-stone-former-trump-advisor-lands-infowars-gi/ |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722112128/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/2/roger-stone-former-trump-advisor-lands-infowars-gi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was founded in 1999, and operated under Free Speech Systems LLC.
Talk shows and other content for the site were created primarily in studios at an undisclosed location in an industrial area in the outskirts of [[Austin, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A Visit to the InfoWars Studios of Alex Jones |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-visit-to-the-infowars-studios-of-alex-jones-a-1136654.html |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191717/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-visit-to-the-infowars-studios-of-alex-jones-a-1136654.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Reports in 2017 stated that the ''InfoWars'' website received approximately 10&nbsp;million monthly visits, making its reach greater than some [[Mainstream media|mainstream news]] websites such as ''[[The Economist]]'' and ''[[Newsweek]]'' at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.quantcast.com/infowars.com?qcLocale=en_US#trafficCard |title=Infowars.com Audience Insights |website=quantcast.com |access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210072444/https://www.quantcast.com/infowars.com?qcLocale=en_US#trafficCard |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/10/28/13424848/alex-jones-infowars-prisonplanet |title=Alex Jones, Pizzagate booster and America's most famous conspiracy theorist, explained |work=Vox |access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071900/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/10/28/13424848/alex-jones-infowars-prisonplanet |url-status=live }}</ref> The site regularly published [[fake news|fake stories]] linked to harassment of victims.{{refn|name=harassment|<ref name=vox /><ref name="nydailynews" /><ref name=wattles /><ref name=Montero/><ref name=cbs /><ref name=":0" />}} In February 2018, Jones, the publisher, director and owner of ''InfoWars'', was accused of discrimination and sexual harassment of employees.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pink |first1=Aiden |title=Alex Jones Accused Of Anti-Semitism, Sexual Harassment |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/395606/alex-jones-accused-of-anti-semitism-sexual-harassment/ |website=[[The Forward]] |access-date=17 February 2022 |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> ''InfoWars'', and in particular Jones, advocated numerous conspiracy theories, particularly around purported domestic [[false flag]] operations by the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] (which they allege include the [[9/11 conspiracy theories|9/11 attack]] and [[Sandy Hook conspiracy theories|Sandy Hook shooting]]). ''InfoWars'' issued retractions various times as a result of legal challenges.<ref name="wattles">{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=2017-05-17 |title=InfoWars' Alex Jones apologizes for saying Chobani supports 'migrant rapists' |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/17/media/alex-jones-chiobani/index.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=CNNMoney}}</ref><ref name="Montero">{{Cite web |last=Montero |first=David |date=2017-05-17 |title=Alex Jones settles Chobani lawsuit and retracts comments about refugees in Twin Falls, Idaho |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-chobani-alex-jones-20170517-story.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Jones has had contentious material removed, and has also been suspended and banned from many platforms for violating their [[terms of service]], including [[Facebook]],<ref name=ArtsTechnica>{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/alex-jones-slammed-with-30-day-ban-from-facebook-for-hateful-videos/|title=Alex Jones slammed with 30-day ban from Facebook for hateful videos [Update]|work=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=July 29, 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728112041/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/alex-jones-slammed-with-30-day-ban-from-facebook-for-hateful-videos/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Twitter]],<ref name=CBSNews>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-bans-alex-jones-and-infowars-today-2018-09-06-live-updates/|title=Twitter permanently bans Alex Jones and Infowars|date=September 6, 2018|publisher=CBS News|access-date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032302/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-bans-alex-jones-and-infowars-today-2018-09-06-live-updates/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[YouTube]],<ref name=BBCNews>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44965160 "YouTube removes 'hate speech' videos from InfoWars"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726195019/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44965160 |date=July 26, 2018 }}. [[BBC News]].</ref> [[iTunes Store|iTunes]],<ref name=CNNMoney2018>{{cite news |last=Riley |first=Charles |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/06/technology/facebook-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |title=YouTube, Apple and Facebook remove content from InfoWars and Alex Jones |work=CNN Money |date=August 6, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806114547/https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/06/technology/facebook-infowars-alex-jones/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Roku#Content and programming|Roku]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46890014 |title=Roku U-turn over streaming Alex Jones's InfoWars |website=BBC News |date=January 16, 2019 |access-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116123609/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46890014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
''InfoWars'' earned most of its revenue from direct sales of products pitched by Jones, which initially consisted of videos and later included [[survivalist]] products and branded merchandise, but shifted primarily to [[dietary supplements]] by the late 2010s.<ref name="salon"/><ref name=nyt-7-9-2018>{{cite news |last1=Williamson |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Steel |first2=Emily |title=Conspiracy Theories Made Alex Jones Very Rich. They May Bring Him Down. |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/us/politics/alex-jones-business-infowars-conspiracy.html |access-date=September 7, 2018 |agency=The New York Times |date=September 7, 2018 |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908012917/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/us/politics/alex-jones-business-infowars-conspiracy.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nym-brown-4-5-17"/> Jones also staged direct-donation [[telethons]] called "money bombs" although ''InfoWars'' was not a [[nonprofit organization]].<ref name="warzel-buzz-2017"/>
On July 30, 2022, amidst a $150 million lawsuit brought against Jones and ''InfoWars'' by Sandy Hook families, Free Speech Systems filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melhado |first=William |date=2022-07-30 |title=Alex Jones' company files for bankruptcy midway through Sandy Hook damages trial |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/30/alex-jones-company-bankruptcy/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> On September 24, 2024, a Houston bankruptcy judge ordered the [[liquidation]] of ''InfoWars'' and Free Speech Systems at two auctions to be held later that year.<ref name=NBC-liquidation/><ref name=NYT-liquidation/> On November 14, it was announced that Global Tetrahedron—publishers of the [[news satire]] publication ''[[The Onion]]''—had acquired the assets of ''InfoWars'', with plans to temporarily shut it down and relaunch it in 2025 as a [[List of satirical news websites|satirical news website]]; however, the original website was restored by Jones the next day after his lawyers alleged irregularities in the auction, and the bankruptcy judge put the sale on hold.<ref name=":1" />
==History==
[[File:Alex Jones & Paul Joseph Watson (9072625782).jpg|thumb|[[Alex Jones]] with [[Paul Joseph Watson]] in 2013]]
''InfoWars'' was created in 1999 by American [[conspiracy theorist]] [[Alex Jones]].<ref name="Business Insider">{{cite news |last=Relman |first=Eliza |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/alex-jones-bio-conspiracy-trump-megyn-kelly-2017-6 |title=How a public-access broadcaster from Austin, Texas, became a major conspiracy theorist and one of Trump's most vocal supporters |work=Business Insider |date=June 19, 2017 |access-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224043744/http://www.businessinsider.com/alex-jones-bio-conspiracy-trump-megyn-kelly-2017-6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="companiestx">{{Cite web |url=https://companiestx.com/company/32034156953/free-speech-systems-llc |title=Free Speech Systems, Llc |website=companiestx.com |access-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107062805/https://companiestx.com/company/32034156953/free-speech-systems-llc |url-status=live }}</ref> Founded by Jones with his then-wife Kelly, it was originally a mail-order outlet for the conspiracy-oriented videos produced by the Joneses.<ref name="Williamson2022">{{cite news|last=Williamson|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/alex-jones-jan-6-trump.html|title=Alex Jones and Donald Trump: A Fateful Alliance Draws Scrutiny|work=The New York Times|date=March 7, 2022|access-date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418043829/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/us/politics/alex-jones-jan-6-trump.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''InfoWars'' features ''The Alex Jones Show'' on their broadcasts and was established as a public-access television program aired in [[Austin, Texas]] in 1999.<ref name="Business Insider" />
During the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]], the website was promoted by bots connected to the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/fbi-investigating-right-wing-sites-role-campaign-hack-article-1.3004192|title=FBI investigating if right-wing sites had role in campaign hacks|work=Daily News|access-date=January 2, 2018|location=New York|language=en|archive-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072528/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/fbi-investigating-right-wing-sites-role-campaign-hack-article-1.3004192|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2017 study by the [[Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society]] at [[Harvard University]] found that ''InfoWars'' was the 13th most shared source by supporters of [[Donald Trump]] on Twitter during the election.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 22, 2017|title=Analysis {{!}} Trump backers' alarming reliance on hoax and conspiracy theory websites, in 1 chart|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/08/22/trump-backers-disturbing-reliance-on-hoax-and-conspiracy-theory-websites-in-1-chart/|access-date=2021-10-10|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Faris|first1=Robert|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1048396744|title=Partisanship, Propaganda, and Disinformation: Online Media and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election|last2=Roberts|first2=Hal|last3=Etling|first3=Bruce|date=August 8, 2017|publisher=[[Berkman Center for Internet & Society]]|pages=72|oclc=1048396744}}</ref>
In 2016, [[Paul Joseph Watson]] was hired as [[editor-at-large]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The live-streamers who are challenging traditional journalism |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/11/the-live-streamers-who-are-challenging-traditional-journalism |publisher=[[The New Yorkers]] |date=December 11, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108014201/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/11/the-live-streamers-who-are-challenging-traditional-journalism |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Top InfoWars editor criticizes Trump after anti-Muslim tweets |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/362288-top-infowars-editor-criticizes-trump-after-anti-muslim-tweets/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=November 29, 2017 |access-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102021201/http://thehill.com/homenews/news/362288-top-infowars-editor-criticizes-trump-after-anti-muslim-tweets |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2017, political commentator [[Jerome Corsi]] was hired as Washington bureau chief,<ref>{{cite news |title=The Conspiracy Bureau: Alex Jones Teams Up With Jerome Corsi for White House Coverage |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/02/02/conspiracy-bureau-alex-jones-teams-jerome-corsi-white-house-coverage |publisher=[[Southern Poverty Law Center]] |date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030220/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/02/02/conspiracy-bureau-alex-jones-teams-jerome-corsi-white-house-coverage |url-status=live }}</ref> after ''InfoWars'' was granted a [[White House Correspondents' Association|White House]] day pass.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conspiracy outlet InfoWars was granted temporary White House press credentials |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/infowars-granted-white-house-press-credentials-2017-5 |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=May 22, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117224243/http://uk.businessinsider.com/infowars-granted-white-house-press-credentials-2017-5 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2018, Corsi's connection to ''InfoWars'' ended; he received six months of severance payments.<ref name="Roig-Franzia">{{cite news|last1=Roig-Franzia|first1=Manuel|last2=Helderman|first2=Rosalind S.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/witness-in-special-counsel-probe-former-stone-associate-collected-payments-from-infowars-through-job-stone-arranged/2019/01/24/4dfa4300-1e57-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|title=Witness in special counsel probe, former Stone associate, collected payments from Infowars through job Stone arranged|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=August 17, 2019|archive-date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730082326/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/witness-in-special-counsel-probe-former-stone-associate-collected-payments-from-infowars-through-job-stone-arranged/2019/01/24/4dfa4300-1e57-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2017, [[Mike Cernovich]] joined the ''InfoWars'' team as a scheduled guest host for ''The Alex Jones Show'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Cernovich, conspiracy theorist praised by Trump Jr., lands InfoWars gig with Alex Jones|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/4/mike-cernovich-conspiracy-theorist-praised-by-trum/|work=[[The Washington Times]]|date=May 4, 2017|access-date=January 2, 2018|archive-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103011715/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/4/mike-cernovich-conspiracy-theorist-praised-by-trum/|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[CNN]] reporting the "elevation to ''InfoWars'' host represents the meteoric rise in his profile".<ref>{{cite news|title=Right-wing troll Mike Cernovich goes professional with new hosting gig at InfoWars|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=May 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507021733/http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/03/media/mike-cernovich-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 6, 2017, alongside Paul Joseph Watson, Jones began hosting a contest to create the best "CNN Meme", for which the winner would receive $20,000. They were responding to [[CNN]] reporting on [[CNN controversies##CNNBlackmail controversy|a Reddit user]] who had created a pro-Trump, anti-CNN meme.<ref name="uO18J">{{cite news|last1=Holt|first1=Jared|title=From meme wars to death threats: How far-right internet culture turns into political action|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/07/07/meme-wars-death-threats-how-far-right-internet-culture-turns-political-action/217173|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=Media Matters for America|date=July 7, 2017|language=en|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707234713/https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/07/07/meme-wars-death-threats-how-far-right-internet-culture-turns-political-action/217173|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="9lL0R">{{cite news|last1=Fearnow|first1=Benjamin|title=#CNNBlackmail, Trump Trolls: Barrage Of Negative Reviews Tank CNN App Ratings|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/cnnblackmail-trump-trolls-barrage-negative-reviews-tank-cnn-app-ratings-2562169|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=International Business Times|date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709055634/http://www.ibtimes.com/cnnblackmail-trump-trolls-barrage-negative-reviews-tank-cnn-app-ratings-2562169|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2017, it was announced that [[Roger Stone]], a former campaign advisor for Donald Trump, would be hosting his own ''InfoWars'' show "five nights a week", with an extra studio being built to accommodate his show.<ref name="Stone" />
In March 2018, a number of major brands in the U.S. suspended their ads from ''InfoWars''{{'}}s YouTube channels, after CNN notified them that their ads were running adjacent to ''InfoWars'' content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-ads-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|title=Advertisers flee InfoWars founder Alex Jones' YouTube channel|author1=Paul P. Murphy|author2=Gianluca Mezzofiore|date=March 3, 2018|website=[[Money.cnn.com]]|access-date=March 4, 2018|archive-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303232148/http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-ads-infowars-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2018, [[YouTube]] removed four of ''InfoWars''{{'}}s uploaded videos that violated its policy against [[hate speech]] and suspended posts for 90 days. Facebook also banned Jones after it determined four videos on his pages violated its community standards in July 2018.<ref name=BBCNews/><ref name=ArtsTechnica/> In August 2018, YouTube, Apple and Facebook removed content from Jones and ''InfoWars'', citing their policies against hate speech and harassment.<ref name=CNNMoney2018/>
In an October 2018 [[Simmons Research]] survey of 38 news organizations, ''InfoWars'' was ranked the second least trusted news organization by Americans, with ''[[The Daily Caller]]'' being lower-ranked.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benton|first=Joshua|author-link=Joshua Benton|date=October 5, 2018|title=Here's how much Americans trust 38 major news organizations (hint: not all that much!)|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/10/heres-how-much-americans-trust-38-major-news-organizations-hint-not-all-that-much/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208001945/https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/10/heres-how-much-americans-trust-38-major-news-organizations-hint-not-all-that-much/|archive-date=December 8, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=[[Nieman Lab]]}}</ref>
On March 12, 2020, [[Attorney General of New York]] [[Letitia James]] issued a [[cease and desist]] letter to Jones concerning ''InfoWars''{{'}}s sale of unapproved products that the website falsely asserted to be government-approved treatments for [[coronavirus disease 2019]] (COVID-19).<ref>{{cite web|first1=Noah|last1=Higgins-Dunn|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=NY attorney general orders InfoWars' Alex Jones to stop selling coronavirus 'treatment' products|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/ny-attorney-general-orders-alex-jones-to-stop-selling-coronavirus-cures.html|date=March 12, 2020|website=[[CNBC]]|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417101223/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/ny-attorney-general-orders-alex-jones-to-stop-selling-coronavirus-cures.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 9, the FDA ordered ''InfoWars'' to discontinue the sale of a number of products marketed as remedies for COVID-19 in violation of the [[Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act]], including toothpaste, liquids, and gels containing [[colloidal silver]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Leah|last=Rosenbaum|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=InfoWars Founder Alex Jones Must Stop Selling Fake Coronavirus Silver Cures, FDA Says|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2020/04/09/infowars-founder-alex-jones-must-stop-selling-fake-coronavirus-silver-cures-fda-says/|website=[[Forbes]]|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428135718/https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2020/04/09/infowars-founder-alex-jones-must-stop-selling-fake-coronavirus-silver-cures-fda-says/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Center for Drug Evaluation and Research|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=Free Speech Systems LLC d.b.a. Infowars.com – 605802 – 04/09/2020|url=https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/free-speech-systems-llc-dba-infowarscom-605802-04092020|date=April 9, 2020|website=[[Food and Drug Administration]]|archive-date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422003046/https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/free-speech-systems-llc-dba-infowarscom-605802-04092020|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Claims of sexual harassment and antisemitism===
In 2017, ''[[Haaretz]]'' reported that ''InfoWars'' had accused Israel of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, accused the [[Rothschilds]] of promoting "endless war, debt slavery and a Luciferian agenda", and claimed that U.S. healthcare was under the control of a "Jewish mafia".<ref>{{cite news|last=Griffing|first=Alexander|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/remember-when-donald-trump-appeared-on-alex-jones-infowars-1.5443723|title=Remember When Donald Trump Appeared on Alex Jones' 'InfoWars'|work=Haaretz|date=August 6, 2018|orig-year=March 1, 2017|access-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref>
Two former employees filed complaints against Jones with the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alex-jones-accused-sexual-harassment-racism-anti-semitism-article-1.3848193|title=Alex Jones accused of sexual harassment, racism and anti-Semitism|work=NY Daily News|access-date=March 26, 2018|language=en|archive-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084341/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alex-jones-accused-sexual-harassment-racism-anti-semitism-article-1.3848193|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Removals from other websites===
On July 27, 2018, [[Facebook]] suspended Alex Jones's official page for thirty days, claiming Jones had participated in [[hate speech]] against [[Robert Mueller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/27/facebook-suspends-us-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones|title=Facebook suspends US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727223532/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/27/facebook-suspends-us-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones|url-status=live}}</ref> This was swiftly followed by action from other bodies—on August 6, Facebook, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[YouTube]] and [[Spotify]] all removed content by Alex Jones and ''InfoWars'' from their platforms for violating their policies. YouTube removed channels associated with ''Infowars'', including The Alex Jones Channel, which had gained 2.4 million subscriptions prior to its removal.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 14, 2018 |title=Facebook, Apple, YouTube and Spotify ban Infowars' Alex Jones |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/06/apple-removes-podcasts-infowars-alex-jones |work=The Guardian |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813204732/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/06/apple-removes-podcasts-infowars-alex-jones |url-status=live }}</ref> On Facebook, four pages associated with ''InfoWars'' and Alex Jones were removed due to repeated violations of the website's policies. Apple removed all podcasts associated with Jones from its [[iTunes]] platform and its podcast app.<ref name="CNNMoney2018"/> On August 13, [[Vimeo]] removed all Jones's videos because they "violated our terms of service prohibitions on discriminatory and hateful content".<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhao |first=Christina |date=August 14, 2018 |title=Vimeo Removes Alex Jones's InfoWars Content: 'Discriminatory and Hateful' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/vimeo-removes-alex-jones-infowars-profit-discriminatory-hateful-1070036 |work=Newsweek |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813130416/https://www.newsweek.com/vimeo-removes-alex-jones-infowars-profit-discriminatory-hateful-1070036 |url-status=live }}</ref> By February 2019, a total of 89 pages associated with ''InfoWars'' or Alex Jones had been removed from Facebook due to its recidivism policy, which is designed to prevent circumventing a ban.<ref>Darcy, Oliver (February 5, 2019) [https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/media/facebook-alex-jones-infowars-pages/index.html "Facebook removes 22 more pages connected to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and InfoWars"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206145111/https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/media/facebook-alex-jones-infowars-pages/index.html |date=February 6, 2019 }} ''[[CNN Business]]''</ref> In May 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted or retweeted defenses of people associated with ''InfoWars'', including editor [[Paul Joseph Watson]] and host Alex Jones, after the Facebook ban.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beckett|first=Lois|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/04/trump-facebook-far-right-bans-support-twitter|title=Trump tweets support for far-right figures banned by Facebook|work=The Guardian|date=May 5, 2019|access-date=August 17, 2019|archive-date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805211839/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/04/trump-facebook-far-right-bans-support-twitter|url-status=live}}</ref>
Jones's accounts have also been removed from [[Pinterest]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Morse |first=Jack |date=August 6, 2018 |title=''InfoWars''{{'}} Pinterest page goes offline after Mashable inquiry |url=https://mashable.com/2018/08/06/infowars-pinterest-site-offline/ |work=Mashable |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813235920/https://mashable.com/2018/08/06/infowars-pinterest-site-offline/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mailchimp]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Lomas |first=Natasha |date=August 7, 2018 |title=MailChimp bans Alex Jones for hateful conduct |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/07/mailchimp-bans-alex-jones-for-hateful-conduct/ |work=Techcrunch |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813234124/https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/07/mailchimp-bans-alex-jones-for-hateful-conduct/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[LinkedIn]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhou |first=Marrian |date=August 7, 2018 |title=Alex Jones' ''Infowars'' removed from LinkedIn and MailChimp |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/alex-jones-infowars-removed-linkedin-pinterest-still-up-on-instagram-twitter/ |work=CNET |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813235341/https://www.cnet.com/news/alex-jones-infowars-removed-linkedin-pinterest-still-up-on-instagram-twitter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Instagram]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cappetta |first1=Michael |last2=Collins |first2=Ben |date=2019-05-02 |title=Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan, others banned from Facebook and Instagram |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-bans-alex-jones-louis-farrakhan-others-facebook-instagram-n1001311 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The [[Wikipedia community]] [[wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 247#RfC on reliability of InfoWars|deprecated]] and blacklisted ''InfoWars'' as a [[Source text|source]] by [[wikipedia:Snowball clause|snowball clause]] consensus in 2018, determining that ''InfoWars'' is a "conspiracy theorist and [[fake news website]]".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 29, 2020|title=Wikipedia Bans Right Wing Site Breitbart as a Source for Facts|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pa9qvv/wikipedia-banned-breitbart-infowars|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|first=Samantha|last=Cole|date=October 2, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630124424/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pa9qvv/wikipedia-banned-breitbart-infowars|url-status=live}}</ref>
Beginning in September 2018, Jones and ''InfoWars'' were both suspended from [[Twitter]] and [[Periscope (service)|Periscope]], a Twitter subsidiary. This followed Jones tweeting a Periscope video calling on others "to get their battle rifles ready against antifa, the mainstream media, and Chicom operatives".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/5944zn/alex-jones-twitter-ban-infowars|title=Alex Jones responds to his Twitter ban by posting a 13-minute video to Twitter|publisher=Vice News|date=August 15, 2018|access-date=August 15, 2018|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815200613/https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/5944zn/alex-jones-twitter-ban-infowars|url-status=live}}</ref> In the video he also stated, "Now is time to act on the enemy before they do a false flag." Twitter cited this as the reason to suspend his account for a week on August 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/14/media/twitter-alex-jones/index.html|title=Twitter suspends conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for one week|website=CNN Money|date=August 15, 2018|access-date=August 15, 2018|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815140243/https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/14/media/twitter-alex-jones/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 6, Twitter permanently banned ''InfoWars'' and temporarily banned Alex Jones for repeated violations of the site's terms and conditions. Twitter cited abusive behavior, namely a video that "shows Jones shouting at and berating CNN journalist Oliver Darcy for some 10 minutes during congressional hearings about social media."<ref name=CBSNews/> Jones's ban from the platform was overturned by [[Elon Musk]] in December 2023, after the latter's [[Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk|acquisition of the site and subsequent rebranding as X]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-10 |title=Elon Musk restores conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' X account, reversing Twitter's ban |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/elon-musk-restores-conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-x-account-reversing-twitters-ban |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}</ref>
On September 7, 2018, the ''InfoWars'' app was removed from the [[App Store (iOS)|Apple App Store]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-infowars/apple-inc-bans-alex-jones-app-for-objectionable-content-idUSKCN1LO04G|title=Apple Inc bans Alex Jones app for 'objectionable content'|last=Whitcomb|first=Dan|work=Reuters|date=September 8, 2018|access-date=September 8, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723032211/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-infowars/apple-inc-bans-alex-jones-app-for-objectionable-content-idUSKCN1LO04G|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 20, 2018, [[PayPal]] informed ''InfoWars'' they would cease processing payments in ten days because "promotion of hate and discrimination runs counter to our core value of inclusion."<ref name=PayPalTermination>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/technology/paypal-blocks-infowars.html|title=PayPal Cuts Off Alex Jones's Infowars, Joining Other Tech Giants|last=Popper|first=Nathaniel|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 21, 2018|access-date=September 26, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926094020/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/technology/paypal-blocks-infowars.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 2, 2019, Facebook and Instagram banned Jones and ''InfoWars'' as part of a larger ban of far-right extremists. The ban covered videos, audio clips, and articles from ''InfoWars'', but excluded criticism of ''InfoWars''. Facebook indicated it would take down [[List of Facebook features#Groups|groups]] that violated the ban.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/05/instagram-and-facebook-ban-far-right-extremists/588607/|title=Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists|author1=Taylor Lorenz|author-link1=Taylor Lorenz|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=May 2, 2019|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503004014/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/05/instagram-and-facebook-ban-far-right-extremists/588607/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''InfoWars'' app was pulled from [[Google Play]] on March 27, 2020, for violating its policies on spreading "misleading or harmful disinformation", after Jones opposed efforts to contain COVID-19 and said "natural antivirals" could treat the disease.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |url=https://www.wired.com/story/google-bans-infowars-android-app-alex-jones-coronavirus/ |title=Google Bans Infowars Android App Over Coronavirus Claims |magazine=Wired |date=March 27, 2020 |access-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328102518/https://www.wired.com/story/google-bans-infowars-android-app-alex-jones-coronavirus/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2023, the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] reported on Jones' leaked texts from his Sandy Hook defamation trial. The texts revealed that Jones and his collaborators had been trying to evade social media bans of ''InfoWars'' content by setting up alternate websites such as ''[[National File]]'' to disguise its origin.<ref name="SPLC">{{Cite web |last1=Squire |first1=Megan |last2=Hayden |first2=Michael Edison |date=March 8, 2023 |title='Absolutely Bonkers': Inside Infowars' Money Machine |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/03/08/absolutely-bonkers-inside-infowars-money-machine |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=[[Southern Poverty Law Center]] |language=en |quote=Jones' text messages suggest Jones and his collaborators sought to launder his Infowars content to social media sites that had banned it, while disguising its true origin. For example, the texts reveal that Jones created the junk-news website National File.}}</ref><ref name="Gizmodo">{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Kyle |date=2023-03-17 |title=Alex Jones' Alleged Secret Site Gets Around Social Media Bans |url=https://gizmodo.com/alex-jones-infowars-national-file-facebook-twitter-1850238082 |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=[[Gizmodo]] |language=en |quote=In leaked texts shared earlier this month by the Southern Poverty Law Center between him and well-known Republican operative Roger Stone in 2020, Jones said "off record this is my site" in relation to National File.}}</ref>
===Bankruptcy and proposed acquisition===
In April 2022, it became known the company behind ''InfoWars'' had filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection, as had Infowars Health (or IWHealth), against further civil litigation lawsuits.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy-filing-sandy-hook-massacre/|title=Alex Jones' Infowars files for bankruptcy in wake of defamation suits over his assertions that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax|website=CBS News|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> The court filings estimated InfoWars assets at between $0–$50,000, but its liabilities (including from the damages awarded against Jones in defamation suits) was estimated as being between $1 million to $10 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/alex-jones-infowars-files-bankruptcy-us-court-2022-04-18/|title=Alex Jones' InfoWars files for bankruptcy in U.S. court|website=Reuters|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>
On June 23, 2024, Jones' court-appointed bankruptcy trustee Christopher Murray filed an "emergency" motion in a Houston court indicating his intention to shut down ''InfoWars''.<ref name=plannedendofinfowars /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Visser |first=Nick |date=2024-06-24 |title=Alex Jones' Bankruptcy Trustee Plans To Shutter Infowars And 'Liquidate Its Inventory' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alex-jones-inforwars-liquidate-trustee_n_6679fdeee4b0604360affd9c |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> According to the motion, Murray made plans to "conduct an orderly wind-down" of the operations of Free Speech Systems, ''InfoWars’'' parent company, and also "liquidate its inventory", but he did not announce a timetable; on his radio show, Jones had said that he expects ''InfoWars'' to operate for a few more months, or to be sold to another party that may retain him as an employee.<ref name=plannedendofinfowars>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy-sandy-hook-e8bf9a3d11b9506abb18c285d3e7b138|title=Bankruptcy trustee discloses plan to shut down Alex Jones' Infowars and liquidate assets|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|first=Dave|last=Collins|date=June 24, 2024|accessdate=June 26, 2024}}</ref> Murray also asked the bankruptcy court to put a hold on the Sandy Hook families' attempts to collect their settlements from Jones, saying that their efforts would interfere with the liquidation; much of its proceeds would ultimately go to the families, Murray said.<ref name=plannedendofinfowars /> On September 24, bankruptcy judge Christopher Lopez approved the liquidation of ''InfoWars''{{'}} and Free Speech Systems' assets. Auctions would be held on November 13 and December 10; no limits were to be imposed on who may bid for the company's [[intellectual property]] and other assets.<ref name=NBC-liquidation>{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2024 |title=Judge to approve auctions liquidating Alex Jones' Infowars to help pay Sandy Hook families |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/auctions-liquidating-alex-jones-infowars-sandy-hook-rcna172586 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYT-liquidation>{{cite news |last=Williamson |first=Elizabeth |date=September 25, 2024 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/24/us/politics/alex-jones-infowars-auction.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NU4.jd8O._Cjr1lVbe7wu&smid=url-share |title=Alex Jones's Infowars Will Be Auctioned Off to Pay Sandy Hook Families |work=The New York Times |location=New York City |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://360assetadvisors.com/events/fssmh/|url-status=deviated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008151215/https://360assetadvisors.com/events/fssmh/|title=Auction – By Order of the US Bankruptcy Court in the matter of Alexander E. JonesFree Speech Systems Media Holdings dba Infowars|archive-date=8 October 2024|publisher=Three \Sixty Asset Advisors}}</ref>
[[File:InfoWars Onion GT Company.png|thumb|Logo of ''InfoWars'' after its acquisition by Global Tetrahedron.]]
[[File:InfoWars down.png|thumb|Website as it appeared on November 14, 2024, reading "Site unavailable till further notice."]]
On November 14, Global Tetrahedron—publisher of the [[News satire|satirical]] newspaper ''[[The Onion]]''—announced that it had bought ''InfoWars''{{'}} intellectual property assets in the auction, with the site afterwards shut down, to be relaunched in January 2025 as a satire written by ''Onion'' staff. CEO [[Ben Collins (reporter)|Ben Collins]] stated that the new site would be "very funny" and "very stupid", and cited [[Bluesky]] users who suggested that it would be funny for ''The Onion'' to acquire ''InfoWars''. Global Tetrahedron had offered $1.75 million in cash, plus credit from families of the Sandy Hook shootings who had "agreed to forgo a portion of their recovery to increase the overall value", which it claimed brought its bid close to $7 million. The gun control advocacy group [[Everytown for Gun Safety]] was to have an "exclusive" advertising deal upon the relaunch. Jones responded to the sale in a live stream on [[Twitter|X (formerly Twitter)]], stating that it was "a distinct honor to be here in defiance of the tyrants", and that "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to be here until they come in there and turn the lights off. I'm going to say, 'where's your court order?'"<ref>
*{{Cite news |last=Betts |first=Anna |date=2024-11-14 |title=The Onion buys rightwing conspiracy theory site Infowars with plans to make it 'very funny, very stupid' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/nov/14/onion-info-wars-alex-jones |access-date=2024-11-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
*{{cite news |last1=Zadrozny |first1=Brandy |author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny |last2=Ortiz |first2=Erik |date=14 November 2024 |title=The Onion wins Alex Jones' Infowars in bankruptcy auction |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/onion-wins-alex-jones-infowars-bankruptcy-auction-rcna179936 |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=NBC News |language=en}}
*{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |author-link=Hadas Gold |date=2024-11-14 |title=The Onion has won the bid for Infowars' assets |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/14/business/onion-alex-jones-infowars-auction/index.html |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=2024-11-19 |title=Alex Jones and his allies are desperately trying to stop the sale of Infowars to The Onion |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/19/media/alex-jones-infowars-onion-auction-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=CNN |language=en |quote=...The Onion, according to a copy of its bid filed as evidence by Jones, said their bid should be valued at closer to $7 million considering the families’ credit.}}</ref>
Hours after Global Tetrahedron's announcement, Jones's lawyers said that the auction had been conducted improperly, and Judge Lopez put a hold on the sale pending a hearing to be held the following week.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=November 14, 2024 |title=The Onion Says It Has Bought Infowars, Alex Jones' Site, Out of Bankruptcy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/business/media/alex-jones-infowars-the-onion.html |accessdate=November 14, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=ap-hold>{{cite web|last=Collins |first=Dave |title=What happens next in The Onion’s effort to buy Alex Jones’ Infowars |url=https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-infowars-auction-onion-how-d42e7b2c916205b348628686c8b8dd4a |publisher=Associated Press |website=apnews.com |access-date=November 15, 2024 |date=November 15, 2024}}</ref><ref name=nr-hold/> Murray also received a $3.5 million cash offer from Jones-affiliated First United American Companies; although its cash value was less, the Global Tetrahedron offer was better for Jones's other creditors because Sandy Hook families would partially forgo payments, but this made the offer difficult to precisely valuate.<ref name=ap-hold/><ref name=nr-hold>{{cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=David |date=November 16, 2024 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |title=Judge Blocks The Onion Bid for Alex Jones’s InfoWars to Review Bankruptcy Auction |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/judge-blocks-the-onions-bid-for-alex-joness-infowars-to-review-bankruptcy-auction/ |url-access=limited |website=nationalreview.com |publisher=National Review |quote=“Infowars sale to the Onion never happened,” Jones posted on X on Saturday. “I am back broadcasting from the Infowars studios... This is a huge scandal! MSM is still falsely reporting that the Onion is the new owner.”}}</ref> Full terms of the offer were not publicly disclosed.<ref name=nr-hold/> Jones's lawyers said that Murray acted improperly in accepting the offer, saying that the two offers were difficult to directly compare. Additionally, Lopez indicated that he had expected bidders to be able to counterbid, although his September order gave Murray the authority to conduct a sealed-bid auction at Murray's sole discretion.<ref name=ap-hold/> Jones's lawyers said that Murray had scheduled a public bid period but abruptly canceled it after the initial sealed bids had been submitted.<ref name=nr-hold/>
The original website was restored on the morning of November 15 by Jones, who told viewers that Murray had improperly shut it down before the sale was finalized, and posted on X the next day that the sale "never happened".<ref name=ap-hold/><ref name=nr-hold/> On November 18, Jones sued Murray and some Sandy Hook families, accusing them of colluding to arrange the acceptance of a "flagrantly non-compliant [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein]] bid" and asking the judge to halt the sale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=2024-11-19 |title=Alex Jones and his allies are desperately trying to stop the sale of Infowars to The Onion |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/19/media/alex-jones-infowars-onion-auction-lawsuit/index.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=CNN |language=en |quote=In a lawsuit filed Monday in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Jones claimed trustee Christopher Murray and the families “colluded” for a “flagrantly non-compliant Frankenstein bid” and asked a judge to halt the sale. }}</ref>
== Content ==
===Promotion of conspiracy theories and fake news===
''InfoWars'' disseminated multiple conspiracy theories, including false claims against the [[HPV vaccine]]<ref name=vox>{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/4/6/15160486/alex-jones-vaccines-autism-gates-fungus-health-conspiracy-theories |title=I watched Alex Jones give his viewers health advice. Here's what I learned. |website=Vox.com |date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105230636/https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/4/6/15160486/alex-jones-vaccines-autism-gates-fungus-health-conspiracy-theories |url-status=live }}</ref> and claims the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]] was part of a conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayden |first1=Michael Edison |title=Alt-right conspiracy theories blame Antifa for the mass shooting in Las Vegas |url=http://www.newsweek.com/alt-right-conspiracy-theories-blame-antifa-mass-shooting-las-vegas-677075 |access-date=February 9, 2018 |work=Newsweek |date=October 3, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005120840/http://www.newsweek.com/alt-right-conspiracy-theories-blame-antifa-mass-shooting-las-vegas-677075 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, skeptic [[Brian Dunning (author)|Brian Dunning]] listed it at #4 on a "Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites" list.<ref>{{Skeptoid|id=4495|number=495|title= Updated: Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites |access-date=October 23, 2020|date=November 8, 2011|quote=4. InfoWars.com (mixes tired conspiracy theories with racism, anti-Semitism, and profound distrust of scientific discovery.)}}</ref>
''InfoWars'' advocated [[New World Order (conspiracy theory)|New World Order conspiracy theories]], [[9/11 conspiracy theories]], the [[chemtrail conspiracy theory]], conspiracy theories involving [[Bill Gates]], supposed covert government [[weather control]] programs, claims of rampant domestic [[false flag]] operations by the US Government (including 9/11), and the unsupported claim that millions voted illegally in the 2016 US presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/alex-jones-mis-infowars-7-bat-sht-conspiracy-theories-w467509/former-fox-news-host-glenn-beck-is-a-cia-operative-w468041 |title=Alex Jones' Mis-Infowars: 7 Bat-Shit Conspiracy Theories |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230225842/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/alex-jones-mis-infowars-7-bat-sht-conspiracy-theories-w467509/former-fox-news-host-glenn-beck-is-a-cia-operative-w468041 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/who-alex-jones-his-top-five-conspiracy-theories-ahead-nbc-megyn-kelly-626633 |title=Alex Jones says 9/11, the Sandy Hook shooting and the Boston Marathon bombing were "false flag" operations |date=June 16, 2017 |work=Newsweek |access-date=December 30, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230172403/http://www.newsweek.com/who-alex-jones-his-top-five-conspiracy-theories-ahead-nbc-megyn-kelly-626633 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jones frequently used ''InfoWars'' to assert that [[mass shootings]] are conspiracies or "false flag" operations; these false claims are often subsequently spread by other fake news outlets and on social media.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/business/media/las-vegas-massacre-infowars-conspiracy.html |title=Las Vegas Massacre Gives InfoWars More Conspiracy Fodder |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael M. |date=October 9, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 30, 2017 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214191248/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/business/media/las-vegas-massacre-infowars-conspiracy.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trump-and-the-amazing-alex-jones |title=Donald Trump and the "Amazing" Alex Jones |last=Finnegan |first=William |author-link=William Finnegan |date=June 23, 2016 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=December 30, 2017 |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229102831/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trump-and-the-amazing-alex-jones |url-status=live }}</ref> This has been characterized as [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] "fan fiction".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2014-03-12/no-armed-protests-are-not-normal-in-austin/ |title=No, Armed Protests Are Not Normal in Austin |access-date=December 30, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230172312/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2014-03-12/no-armed-protests-are-not-normal-in-austin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Infowars'' has published and promoted [[fake news]],<ref name=cbs>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/dont-get-fooled-by-these-fake-news-sites/4/ |title=Don't get fooled by these fake news sites |website=[[CBS News]] |date=February 10, 2017 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304061636/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/dont-get-fooled-by-these-fake-news-sites/4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Jones has been accused of [[fraud|knowingly misleading people to make money]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/fake-news-not-just-alex-jones-trial-custody-case/ |title=Fake news itself, not just Alex Jones, is on trial in his custody case |first=Rob |last=Crilly |author-link=Rob Crilly |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=April 18, 2017 |via=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413134806/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/fake-news-not-just-alex-jones-trial-custody-case/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the summer of 2015, video editor Josh Owens and reporter [[Joseph Biggs|Joe Biggs]] took a video of workers loading cargo in Texas. They claimed the men were drug smugglers; the Drudge Report picked up their headline, and [[Donald Trump]] used it in a campaign speech. Owens admitted years later: "It's not about truth, it's not about accuracy — it's about what's going to make people click on this video...In essence, we lied." (Biggs was later indicted for seditious conspiracy for his role with the [[Proud Boys]] in the [[2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol]].)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Kuznia |first1=Rob |last2=Devine |first2=Curt |last3=Black |first3=Nelli |date=June 2022 |title=The Alex Jones-ification of the GOP |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/06/politics/alex-jones-infowars-fringe-to-frontlinechapter-02.html |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=www.cnn.com}}</ref> As part of the probe by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) into [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]], ''InfoWars'' was investigated to see if it was complicit in the dissemination of fake news stories distributed by Russian bots.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/fbi-breitbart-investigate-alt-right-wing-websites-fake-news-bots-donald-trump-a7641826.html |title=The FBI are 'investigating the role of Breitbart in spreading fake news with bots' |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=March 21, 2017 |access-date=January 29, 2018 |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222165508/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/fbi-breitbart-investigate-alt-right-wing-websites-fake-news-bots-donald-trump-a7641826.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
From May 2014 to November 2017, ''InfoWars'' [[Plagiarism|republished articles from multiple sources without permission]], including over 1,000 from Russian state-sponsored news network [[RT (TV network)|RT]], as well as stories from news outlets such as [[CNN]], the [[BBC]], and ''[[The New York Times]]'' which ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' said were "dwarfed" by those from RT.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lytvynenko |first=Jane |title=InfoWars Has Republished More Than 1,000 Articles From RT Without Permission |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/janelytvynenko/infowars-is-running-rt-content/ |publisher=[[BuzzFeed News]] |date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101062636/https://www.buzzfeed.com/janelytvynenko/infowars-is-running-rt-content |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Link |first1=Taylor |title=Infowars peddled stories from a Russian propaganda outlet for years |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/11/09/infowars-peddled-stories-from-a-russian-propaganda-outlet-for-years/ |access-date=September 16, 2018 |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |date=November 9, 2017 |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916193626/https://www.salon.com/2017/11/09/infowars-peddled-stories-from-a-russian-propaganda-outlet-for-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
A 2020 study by researchers from [[Northeastern University|Northeastern]], [[Harvard University|Harvard]], [[Northwestern University|Northwestern]] and [[Rutgers University|Rutgers]] universities found that ''InfoWars'' was among the top 5 most shared fake news domains in tweets related to COVID-19, the others being ''[[The Gateway Pundit]]'', ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', [[Judicial Watch]] and [[Natural News]].<ref name="NiemanLab" />
===Claims of false flag school shootings===
''InfoWars'' regularly claimed, without evidence, that mass shootings were staged "false flag" operations, and accused survivors of such events of being crisis actors employed by the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]]. ''InfoWars'' host Alex Jones promoted the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting conspiracy theories]], claiming that the massacre of twenty elementary school students and six staff members was "completely fake" and "manufactured," a stance for which Jones was heavily criticized.<ref name="nydailynews">{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/alex-jones-doubles-completely-fake-sandy-hook-claims-article-1.2878305 |title=Alex Jones doubles down on 'completely fake' Sandy Hook claims |website=Daily News |date=November 18, 2016 |location=New York |access-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201639/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/alex-jones-doubles-completely-fake-sandy-hook-claims-article-1.2878305 |url-status=live }}</ref>  In March 2018, six families of victims of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], as well as an FBI agent who responded to the attack, filed a defamation lawsuit against Jones for his role in spreading conspiracy theories about the shooting.<ref>
*{{cite web |url= https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/us/alex-jones-sandy-hook-suit/index.html |title= Alex Jones, 'InfoWars' host, sued by 6 more Sandy Hook families |author= Aaron Cooper |work= [[CNN]] |date= May 24, 2018 |access-date= May 26, 2018 |archive-date= June 21, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180621194151/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/us/alex-jones-sandy-hook-suit/index.html |url-status= live }}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alex-jones-sued-sandy-hook-victims-families-defamation-infowars-a8368346.html |title= US shock jock Alex Jones sued by six more families of Sandy Hook victims |author= Emily Shugerman |work= [[The Independent]] |date= May 25, 2018 |access-date= May 26, 2018 |archive-date= September 22, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180922203614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alex-jones-sued-sandy-hook-victims-families-defamation-infowars-a8368346.html |url-status= live }}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/24/sandy-hook-families-sue-infowars-alex-jones-over-conspiracy-theory/641159002/ |title= Sandy Hook families suing Alex Jones aren't the only ones to threaten conspiracy theorist |author= Josh Hafner |work= [[USA Today]] |date= May 23, 2018 |access-date= May 26, 2018 |archive-date= September 29, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180929032647/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/24/sandy-hook-families-sue-infowars-alex-jones-over-conspiracy-theory/641159002/ |url-status= live }}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-sandy-hook-alex-jones-lawsuit-20180523-story.html |title= More families of Sandy Hook victims, FBI agent sue ''Infowars''{{'}} Alex Jones |author= Dave Collins |work= [[Associated Press]] [[Chicago Tribune]] |date= May 23, 2018 |access-date= May 26, 2018 |archive-date= November 1, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181101084709/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-sandy-hook-alex-jones-lawsuit-20180523-story.html |url-status= live }}</ref> In December 2019, ''InfoWars'' and Jones were ordered to pay $100,000 in legal fees prior to the trial for another defamation lawsuit from a different family whose son was killed in the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Will|last1=Sommer|author-link1=Will Sommer|access-date=January 1, 2020|title=Alex Jones and Infowars Ordered to Pay $100K in Court Costs for Sandy Hook Case|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/alex-jones-and-infowars-ordered-to-pay-dollar100k-in-court-costs-for-sandy-hook-case|date=December 31, 2019|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101012601/https://www.thedailybeast.com/alex-jones-and-infowars-ordered-to-pay-dollar100k-in-court-costs-for-sandy-hook-case|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Neil|last1=Vigdor|access-date=January 1, 2020|title=Judge Orders Alex Jones and Infowars to Pay $100,000 in Sandy Hook Legal Fees|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/31/us/Alex-Jones-sandy-hook.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 31, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101012602/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/31/us/Alex-Jones-sandy-hook.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a June 2022 agreement, the families agreed to drop their Texas and Connecticut defamation cases against Infowars, Prison Planet TV and IW Health, and in return, those companies would no longer pursue their Texas case for bankruptcy protection. The agreement did not end the separate defamation cases against Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Dave |date=2022-06-02 |title=Infowars agrees to end bankruptcy after Sandy Hook deal |url=https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-texas-lawsuits-shootings-1e1a87fe1e38dc8f45d9283a1375e0a5 |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>
Jones also accused [[David Hogg]] and other survivors of the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]] of being [[crisis actor]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/02/24/youtube-pulls-alex-jones-infowars-video/ |title=YouTube Pulls Alex Jones Video Saying Parkland Victims Were Actors |work=Fortune |access-date=February 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228180142/http://fortune.com/2018/02/24/youtube-pulls-alex-jones-infowars-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Pizzagate conspiracy theory===
''InfoWars'' promoted fabricated [[Pizzagate]] claims. The fake claims led to harassment of the owner and employees of [[Comet Ping Pong]], a Washington, D.C. pizzeria targeted by the conspiracy theories, including threatening phone calls, online harassment, and [[death threat]]s. The owner sent a letter to Jones in February 2017 demanding a retraction or apology. (Such a letter is required before a party may seek [[punitive damages]] in an action for libel under [[Texas law]]).<ref>{{cite act |title=Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code |type=Chapter |number=73. Libel |date=June 14, 2013 |article=4. Liability in Tort |article-type=Title |page= |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.73.htm |access-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221540/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.73.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
After receiving the letter, Jones said, "I want our viewers and listeners to know that we regret any negative impact our commentaries may have had on Mr. Alefantis, Comet Ping Pong, or its employees. We apologize to the extent our commentaries could be construed as negative statements about Mr. Alefantis or Comet Ping Pong, and we hope that anyone else involved in commenting on Pizzagate will do the same thing." ''InfoWars'' also issued a correction on its website.<ref name="npr">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/26/521545788/conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-apologizes-for-promoting-pizzagate |title=Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Apologizes For Promoting Comet Ping Pong 'Pizzagate' Fabrication |author=James Doubek |date=March 26, 2017 |publisher=NPR |access-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229080432/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/26/521545788/conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-apologizes-for-promoting-pizzagate |url-status=live }}</ref>
''InfoWars'' reporter [[Owen Shroyer]] also targeted East Side Pies, a group of pizza restaurants in Austin, Texas, with similar fake "Pizzagate" claims. Following the claims, the pizza business was targeted by phone threats, vandalism, and harassment, which the co-owners called "alarming, disappointing, disconcerting and scary".<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/crime--law/how-austin-east-side-pies-became-target-fake-pizzagate/jQJtrr2xVIMNmpWc0IOW5O/ |title=How Austin's East Side Pies became target of fake #pizzagate |author=Matthew Odam |date=December 7, 2017 |website=Austin American-Statesman |access-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207225002/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/crime--law/how-austin-east-side-pies-became-target-fake-pizzagate/jQJtrr2xVIMNmpWc0IOW5O/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Chobani retraction===
In 2017, ''InfoWars'' (along with similar sites) published a fake story about U.S. yogurt manufacturer [[Chobani]], with headlines including "Idaho yogurt maker caught importing migrant rapists" and "allegations that Chobani's practice of hiring refugees brought crime and tuberculosis to [[Twin Falls, Idaho|Twin Falls]]". Chobani ultimately filed a federal lawsuit against Jones,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rozsa |first=Matthew |date=2017-04-25 |title=Chobani sues Alex Jones after Infowars host links yogurt company's welcoming of refugees to Idaho violence |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/04/25/chobani-sues-alex-jones-after-infowars-host-says-yogurt-companys-workers/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref> which led to a [[Settlement (law)|settlement]] on confidential terms in May 2017. Jones offered an apology and retraction, admitting he had made "certain statements" on ''InfoWars'' "that I now understand to be wrong".<ref name=wattles/><ref name=Montero/>
=== Seth Rich retraction ===
In 2019, [[Jerome Corsi]] and InfoWars apologized and retracted a story promoting conspiracy theories about the [[murder of Seth Rich]]. The retraction was published on the front page of InfoWars, where Corsi said that "his allegations were not based upon any independent factual knowledge." Corsi said that he retracted the story because it relied on information that ''[[The Washington Times]]'' had retracted, but still thought that investigators should look into whether Seth Rich played a role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=2019-03-04 |title=Jerome Corsi retracts InfoWars story that spread Seth Rich conspiracy theory {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/media/jerome-corsi-seth-rich/index.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kroll |first=Andy |date=2019-03-04 |title=Pro-Trump Conspiracy Peddler Jerome Corsi Apologizes to Seth Rich's Family |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/pro-trump-conspiracy-peddler-jerome-corsi-apologizes-to-seth-richs-family-802581/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Businesses==
While Jones stated, "I'm not a business guy, I'm a revolutionary", he spent much of ''InfoWars''{{'}}s air time pitching dietary supplements and [[survivalist]] products to his audience. As a private firm, ''InfoWars'' and its affiliated [[limited liability companies]] were not required to make public financial statements; as a result, observers could only estimate its revenue and profits.<ref name=nyt-7-9-2018/>
Prior to 2013, Jones focused on building a "media empire".<ref name="nym-brown-4-5-17">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Seth |title=Alex Jones's Media Empire Is a Machine Built to Sell Snake-Oil Diet Supplements |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/05/how-does-alex-jones-make-money.html |access-date=September 9, 2018 |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=May 4, 2017 |archive-date=October 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010055727/http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/05/how-does-alex-jones-make-money.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2013, Alex Seitz-Wald of ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' estimated that Jones was earning as much as $10 million a year between subscriptions, web and radio advertising, and sales of DVDs, T-shirts, and other merchandise.<ref name="salon">{{cite web |last1=Seitz-Wald |first1=Alex |title=Alex Jones: Conspiracy Inc. |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/05/02/alex_jones_conspiracy_inc/ |website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |access-date=September 9, 2018 |date=May 2, 2013 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211141446/https://www.salon.com/2013/05/02/alex_jones_conspiracy_inc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, Jones changed his business model to incorporate selling proprietary dietary supplements, including one that promised to "supercharge" cognitive functions.<ref name="nym-brown-4-5-17"/>
Unlike most talk radio shows, ''InfoWars'' itself did not directly generate income, as it did not receive syndication fees from its syndicator GCN nor a cut of GCN's advertising, and it did not sell its own advertising time. By 2017, the show had ceased promoting its video service (though it still existed), and ''InfoWars'' did not make any documentary films after 2012; virtually all of its revenue was being generated by selling Jones's dietary supplements to viewers and listeners through the site's online store.<ref name="nym-brown-4-5-17"/>
In 2017, the supplements sold on the ''InfoWars'' store were primarily sourced from Dr. Edward F. Group III, a [[chiropractor]] who founded the Global Healing Center supplement vendor.<ref name="nym-brown-4-5-17"/> A significant portion of ''InfoWars''{{'}}s products contain [[colloidal silver]], which Jones falsely claimed "kills every virus", including "the whole [[SARS]]-[[Coronavirus|corona]] family"; this claim was disputed by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA).<ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Andrew|last1=Marantz|author-link1=Andrew Marantz|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=Alex Jones's Bogus Coronavirus Cures|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/alex-jones-bogus-coronavirus-cures|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419234934/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/alex-jones-bogus-coronavirus-cures|url-status=live}}</ref>
A lesser source of revenue for ''InfoWars'' was its "money bomb" [[telethons]], which resembled [[public radio]] fundraisers, except ''InfoWars'' was a for-profit institution. According to former ''InfoWars'' employees, a money bomb could raise $100,000 in a day.<ref name="warzel-buzz-2017">{{cite news |last1=Warzel |first1=Charlie |title=Alex Jones Just Can't Help Himself |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/alex-jones-will-never-stop-being-alex-jones |website=[[BuzzFeed News]] |publisher=[[BuzzFeed]] |access-date=September 9, 2018 |date=May 3, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909221928/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/alex-jones-will-never-stop-being-alex-jones |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2014, Jones claimed that ''InfoWars'' was accumulating over $20 million in annual revenue. ''[[The New York Times]]'' attributed most of the revenue to sales of supplements, including "Super Male Vitality" and "Brain Force Plus", which ''InfoWars'' purported would increase [[testosterone]] and mental agility, respectively.<ref name=nyt-7-9-2018/> Court documents in 2014 indicate that ''InfoWars'' was successful enough for Jones and his then-wife to be planning to "build a swimming pool complex{{nbsp}}... featuring a waterfall and dining cabana with a stone fireplace". The documents also listed Jones's possessions, including four [[Rolex]] watches, a $40,000 saltwater aquarium, a $70,000 grand piano, $50,000 in weapons, and $70,000 in jewelry.<ref name=nyt-7-9-2018/>
After ''InfoWars'' was banned by Facebook, YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Pinterest, Jones appealed to viewers, "The enemy wants to cut off our funding to destroy us. If you don't fund us, we'll be shut down."<ref name=nyt-7-9-2018/>
==See also==
* [[List of fake news websites]]
* [[Fake news websites in the United States]]
* ''[[Knowledge Fight]]''
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20200831191205/https://www.infowars.com/contributors}} (archived)
{{alt-right footer}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Alex Jones]]
[[Category:Conspiracist media]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2022]]
[[Category:Fake news websites]]
[[Category:American conservative websites]]
[[Category:Mass media in Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:The Onion]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in the United States]]