Rumble, a video platform with its headquarters in Toronto, has been taken offline in Brazil. On Friday, Alexandre de Moraes, the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court in Brasília, ordered the nationwide blocking of the website, citing Rumble’s refusal to comply with the laws of the South American country. The block will remain in place until Rumble meets the previously ordered demands, pays the imposed fines and appoints a representative in Brazil.
According to the Brazilian Telecommunications Agency, Anatel, more than 21,000 internet service providers in the country were promptly informed of the court’s decision. Anatel will monitor the compliance of the internet providers and report regularly to the Supreme Federal Court, as stated in a press release.
Rumble described the decision as a “legal overreach.” The platform’s blockage has also affected the operation of Truth Social, a social network used by US President Donald Trump, which relies on Rumble’s infrastructure for video content. The company is now exploring all options to challenge the decision.
Rumble’s founder, Chris Pavlovski, encouraged users in Brazil to download the app to bypass the blockage on the X platform.
The dispute revolves around the Rumble account of Allan dos Santos, an influencer and supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently living in the US and is on the run in Brazil. The Brazilian justice system accuses dos Santos of spreading hate and disinformation online. Rumble refuses to delete the influencer’s content, calling it “extraterritorial censorship.”
Rumble was previously offline in Brazil in 2023 but returned in the beginning of this year, with Pavlovski stating that Brazil had lifted its censorship of Rumble without providing the reasons.
In August 2024, Moraes also blocked the social network X in Brazil, after the platform refused to comply with the demands of the local authorities. The dispute was settled in October after X met the demands of the Brazilian justice system.