STF keeps Rumble Block in Brazil unanimously

The Federal Supreme Court (STF) ruled on Friday, 14, to maintain the suspension of the Rumble social network in Brazil. The first class of the court accompanied the vote of the rapporteur, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who determined the blockade of the video platform in the country.

Moraes suspended Rumble after the company fails to comply with the judicial determination that required the company to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, which did not occur. The block is indefinitely and will remain in force until the platform meets the determination and pays the fines stipulated. Ministers Luiz Fux, Cármen Lúcia, Cristiano Zanin and Flávio Dino voted to keep Moraes’s decision.

The clash between the minister and Rumble began after the platform refuses to block the profile of blogger Allan dos Santos, who is on the run from Brazilian authorities. Investigated by dissemination of fake news and attacks on STF members, Santos has had his profiles suspended on other social networks.

Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski reacted to the decision on X (former Twitter), stating that he would not abide by the court order. “Instead, we will see each other in court. Sincerely, Chris Pavlovski, ”he published.

The comment refers to an action brought by Rumble and Trump Media-a company linked to former President Donald Trump-against Moraes in the United States, who accuse the minister to violate American sovereignty.

In the decision determining the platform, Moraes criticized Pavlovski’s stance, stating that the entrepreneur “confuses freedom of expression with a nonexistent freedom of aggression, deliberately confuses censorship with constitutional prohibition on hatred discourse and incitement to undemocratic acts”.

The minister also stressed that social networks cannot be used as a “shield” to justify illicit activities.