Infowars Facing Possible Shutdown

 

Infowars could be ending operation. Alex Jones can no longer keep the media empire going due to the lawsuits related to the reporting on the Sandy Hook Elementary  School shooting. Alex Jones has filed for bankruptcy and Infowars is now up for auction. Alex Jones was charged for defamation for asserting the shootings were nothing more than a hoax. The families of the victims are expected to get cash settlements from Infowars. Alex Jones is hoping to find a buyer for his media company, but that does not mean he would remain employed under new management. Some sources report that Roger Stone might be interested in the purchase of Infowars. Infowars has been active since 1999. When it launched very few news based websites were on the internet. The public was still getting their news from television and  corporate media. Infowars is known for conspiracy theories and right leaning ideology. However, Alex Jones does not favor the neoconservative political establishment. During the 2000s Jones was a critic of the Bush administration and objected to Hillary Clinton's foreign policy. Infowars was given more mainstream attention in 2016. The reason was based on Alex Jones supporting Trump and the concern about disinformation on the internet. Infowars was then banned from Youtube and other social media platforms. Infowars has published false claims, but corporate media has done the same. Fox News and CNN rarely retract false stories or correct their media bias. Alex Jones may not be the main target. The case and bankruptcy proceedings could be used as a blueprint for prohibiting independent media. By linking independent media to more fringe movements, it becomes a justification for shutdown. Content creators could be demonetized, accused of spreading disinformation, or face defamation charges. Alex Jones stated that he will find another platform to do reporting. With Free Speech Systems be part of the bankruptcy proceedings, it will be difficult. Broadcasting continues to evolve with culture and technology. Infowars was able to build with a niche audience and eventually was noticed by the mainstream media.