The First Amendment and the Digital Public Square

Alex Jones has drawn millions of people to his Infowars brand by promoting conspiracy theories and noxious bigotry; he monetizes his following by selling survivalist gear and dietary supplements such as the testosterone booster Alpha Power. (“Infowarriors and Patriots of the world know that it takes real vitality to push back in the fight against the globalist agenda.”) Like President Trump, Infowars has updated for the digital era the timeworn populist tactic of manufacturing controversy to attain influence. Last week, after Apple, Facebook, and Google removed some of Infowars' content from their platforms, Jones attracted even more attention; he described himself as the victim of “a war on free speech.” He urged his fans to back him by buying more of his stuff. (Downloads of the Infowars app soared.)