Twitter/X founder Elon Musk has restored the account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones after users on the platform voted in favor of his return.
After saying he would consider allowing Jones back on the platform, Musk on Saturday posted a poll on Twitter asking if he should reinstate Jones, along with the phrase “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” a Latin phrase that means “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” (He also tweeted the phrase alongside a 2022 poll asking if Donald Trump should also be reinstated.)
After close to 2 million votes, 70.1% of respondents said Jones should be reinstated on the platform, leading to another Musk tweet on Sunday: “The people have spoken and so it shall be.”
After his reinstatement, Jones didn’t waste any time and immediately began tweeting again.
Jones was permanently banned from Twitter in 2018 for abusive behavior.
Musk previously said he would not reinstate Jones on the platform despite requests for him to do so. He specifically mentioned the death of his first-born child in his refusal, saying “I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.”
Jones claimed the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut never happened and was instead staged to tighten gun laws. Twenty children and six educators were killed in the shooting. Relatives of those victims, who were often approached by Jones supporters and told their children never existed, sued Jones and won nearly $1.5 billion.
In follow-up tweets, Musk has said that it’s a “safe bet” that X’s Community Notes will respond to any tweets from Jones that need to be corrected.
Musk has also said that “He cannot break the law” on the platform.