Rumble forced to exit Brazil amid crackdown on independent media

By newseditors // 2024-09-13

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Popular free speech platform Rumble has been forced to cease operations in Brazil, joining other platforms targeted by the country’s government. (Article republished from YourNews.com)

The free speech video platform Rumble has been forced out of Brazil as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to regulate independent media. Rumble joins a growing list of platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), that have faced restrictions in Brazil due to what critics call an attack on free expression.

“Rumble is no longer available to the citizens of Brazil, joining the ranks of France, Russia, and China,” read a statement from the company. “World powers don’t want Rumble, they don’t want X, they don’t want Telegram, and they don’t want Truth Social. They want to control information, but our companies won’t let them.”

The decision follows a series of measures by Brazilian authorities aimed at limiting the reach of platforms accused of disseminating misinformation. Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, has been at the forefront of these efforts, leading to growing concerns about government overreach and the suppression of dissenting voices.

Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski issued a statement on the matter, which has circulated widely on social media. The move comes at a time when many free speech advocates fear that Brazil’s actions are part of a broader global trend of restricting independent platforms critical of government narratives.

Brazil no longer has Rumble and from media reports, they will no longer have X.
World powers don’t want Rumble, they don’t want X, they don’t want Telegram. They want to control information and our companies do not allow them to. There are no other large companies fighting for… — Chris Pavlovski (@chrispavlovski) August 30, 2024

This is not the first instance of platforms being restricted in Brazil. Earlier, Elon Musk’s platform X was also pushed out of the country following a series of similar government actions. Brazil’s regulatory measures have led to growing tensions between the government and platforms that champion free speech, with critics arguing that these actions are stifling open discourse.

As the situation develops, many in the tech industry and civil liberties organizations are closely monitoring the growing pressure on independent media platforms like Rumble and its competitors.

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