In the United States, everyone is entitled to their own opinions especially when it comes to politics and social issues. However, expressing those opinions on social media might land you in some trouble.
Recently, one infamous conspiracist found out just what happens when you violate company policies. However, he’s decided to fight back with a lawsuit and is now claiming he’s being discriminated against.
America’s Leading Conspiracist
Alex Jones, originally just a radio host, has become known as one of America’s leading conspiracy theorists. For more than two decades, Jones, who has been described as conservative, right-wing, alt-right, and far-right, has made a career out of spreading controversial and often dangerous conspiracy theories.
A Controversial Figure
Over the years, Jones’ views and opinions, which he claims are the truth, have garnered widespread attention because of their controversial nature. Today, Jones has become known for being a Trump supporter and a staunch advocate for gun rights. But that’s not all…
The Shocking Theories
Some of the more outrageous theories that Jones has been reported spreading over the years include that there is a white genocide, government controlled weather weapons, inside-job terrorist attacks, and that there are chemicals in the water to stop people from procreating.
Dangerous Views
Jones has infamously claimed homosexuals and gay rights activists are linked to pedophilia. Jones also believes that transgender people are trying to introduce young kids to ‘Satanism.’ As if that wasn’t extreme enough, Jones has also reportedly encouraged violence against liberals.
The School Shooting ‘Hoax’
One of his most controversial theories is his claim that the Sandy Hook School Shooting where 20 young children and six adult staff members were shot was an inside jobs planned by gun-control advocates. Jones claimed that no one really died in the event and accused parents and survivors of being ‘crisis actors.’ Fortunately, Jones has been proved wrong in this case and has since apologized.
Legal Trouble
Jones believes politicians and gun control advocates are trying to take guns from the people so that they can’t protect themselves against the government and, so the population will be easier to control. As a result, six of the grieving families from the Sandy Hook School Shooting and an FBI agent who responded to the shooting filed a defamation lawsuit against Jones.
The Consequences
However, that’s not the only consequence of Jones’ controversial and sometimes dangerous theories. Recently, all the years of ‘truth-telling’ have started to catch up with Jones. Many of the platforms that Jones used to spread his messages have started cutting him off.
Cut Off
In recent months, social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Vimeo, and Twitter have cut Jones off from being able to use his accounts with them. The tech platforms all have their own policies and terms of use and they each claimed that the reason for blocking Jones was because he violated company policies.
Limited Reach
In addition, Jones has since been blocked by Apple’s iTunes and App Store as well as Spotify. Those tech platforms have been vital to Jones’ rise to fame and are the reason his theories have spread all over the world. Cutting Jones off from the platforms seriously impedes his ability to spread his controversial messages.
More Trouble
But recently, his theories have caused him even more trouble. On September 21, 2018, after 18 years of doing business with Jones and his site, Infowars, PayPal notified Jones that they were banning him from using their online transaction service.
Blocked by PayPal
In the notification, PayPal explained that Jones would have 10 more days to use PayPal as a grace period. After that, PayPal told Jones he needed to find another company to process transactions on his website as they would no longer be supporting him.
The Reason
According to PayPal, the reason for finally banning Jones from their service came down to the fact that he violated their company policies. PayPal claimed Jones and Infowars “promoted hate and discriminatory intolerance against certain communities and religions.”
The Lawsuit
In the wake of PayPal banning Jones, he decided to sue the company and has claimed that the company is discriminating against him for his controversial views. Jones believes that PayPal and other tech companies are trying to silence him and have chosen to ban him just before the 2018 midterm elections.
Conservative Discrimination
“It is at this point well known that large tech companies, located primarily in Silicon Valley, are discriminating against politically conservative entities and individuals, including banning them from social media platforms such as Twitter, based solely on their political and ideological viewpoints,” Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, states in the 15-page lawsuit against PayPal.
No Alternative
In the suit, Free Speech Systems also explains that there isn’t an adequate alternative to PayPal. As a result, his companies have lost a large portion of their revenue. “PayPal has eliminated competitors and has taken a dominant market position in online payment processing,” the lawsuit states.
‘A Dangerous Precedent’
“Having effectively cornered the market, it is now using that market power to restrain conservative trade and commerce,” the suit states. Jones also argues that banning him sets a dangerous precedent. “PayPal banning Plaintiff is a bridge too far and, if allowed, sets a dangerous precedent for any person or entity with controversial views,” Jones’ attorney, Marc Randazza, wrote in the complaint.
Arguing Against The Policies
“Acceptable use policies of tech companies, including PayPal’s policy, are notoriously broad and subjective, meaning that essentially any expression aside from the most boring and banal interpretation of events potentially violates them,” Mr. Randazza wrote.
Unpredictable ‘Censors’
“Meanwhile, subject-to-change whims of would-be-censors change from day to day, time to time, and no user of this ubiquitous banking service can predict who will be next,” Randazza wrote in the complaint. Jones wants both damages for the loss of income and is also seeking a court order to stop PayPal from permanently banning his accounts.
Hitting Jones Where It Hurts Most
Jones hasn’t sued the various social media platforms that have banned him even though they have seriously limited his reach. The reason, however, is fairly obvious. PayPal’s ban has cut Jones off from the millions he was making selling supplements and survival gear. According to court records, Jones was making more than $28 million a year by 2014. The sales from his companies helped fund his lavish lifestyle.
PayPal Reacts
PayPal, however, isn’t overly concerned with the lawsuit as it’s their right to determine who they will and won’t allow to use their services. “PayPal believes the claims in the complaint are without merit,” said Kim Eichorn, spokesperson of PayPal, said in an email statement in response to the lawsuit. “PayPal looks forward to vigorously defending itself.”
