Rumble and TRUTH Social Sue Brazilian Judge Over Censorship Orders Targeting U.S. Users
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) and Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) have filed a lawsuit against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for violating First Amendment protections by ordering the suspension of U.S.-based accounts. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, seeks to declare these orders unenforceable in the United States.
The case centers around a political dissident who fled Brazil in 2021 and whose extradition request was rejected by the U.S. in March 2024. Despite this rejection, Moraes continued pursuing censorship orders targeting the dissident's content on American platforms. In December 2023, Rumble temporarily disabled access in Brazil rather than comply with content removal demands.
The lawsuit argues that foreign courts cannot unilaterally dictate speech on American platforms without U.S. government authorization. TMTG joined the lawsuit as it relies on Rumble's services for TRUTH Social's operations, including cloud hosting and video streaming.
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) e Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) hanno intentato una causa contro il giudice della Corte Suprema brasiliana Alexandre de Moraes per violazione delle protezioni del Primo Emendamento, ordinando la sospensione di account basati negli Stati Uniti. La causa, presentata presso il Tribunale Distrettuale degli Stati Uniti per il Distretto Centrale della Florida, mira a dichiarare queste ordinanze inapplicabili negli Stati Uniti.
Il caso ruota attorno a un dissidente politico fuggito dal Brasile nel 2021, la cui richiesta di estradizione è stata respinta dagli Stati Uniti a marzo 2024. Nonostante questo rifiuto, Moraes ha continuato a perseguire ordinanze di censura mirate ai contenuti del dissidente sulle piattaforme americane. Nel dicembre 2023, Rumble ha temporaneamente disabilitato l'accesso in Brasile piuttosto che conformarsi alle richieste di rimozione dei contenuti.
La causa sostiene che le corti straniere non possono unilateralmente dettare la libertà di parola sulle piattaforme americane senza l'autorizzazione del governo statunitense. TMTG ha aderito alla causa poiché dipende dai servizi di Rumble per le operazioni di TRUTH Social, inclusi hosting cloud e streaming video.
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) y Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) han presentado una demanda contra el juez del Supremo Tribunal de Brasil, Alexandre de Moraes, por violar las protecciones de la Primera Enmienda al ordenar la suspensión de cuentas basadas en EE.UU. La demanda, presentada en el Tribunal de Distrito de EE.UU. para el Distrito Medio de Florida, busca declarar que estas órdenes son inaplicables en los Estados Unidos.
El caso gira en torno a un disidente político que huyó de Brasil en 2021 y cuya solicitud de extradición fue rechazada por EE.UU. en marzo de 2024. A pesar de este rechazo, Moraes continuó persiguiendo órdenes de censura dirigidas al contenido del disidente en plataformas estadounidenses. En diciembre de 2023, Rumble deshabilitó temporalmente el acceso en Brasil en lugar de cumplir con las demandas de eliminación de contenido.
La demanda argumenta que los tribunales extranjeros no pueden dictar unilateralmente la libertad de expresión en plataformas estadounidenses sin la autorización del gobierno de EE.UU. TMTG se unió a la demanda ya que depende de los servicios de Rumble para las operaciones de TRUTH Social, incluyendo hosting en la nube y transmisión de video.
럼블 (NASDAQ:RUM)과 트럼프 미디어 & 기술 그룹 (TMTG)은 미국 기반 계정의 정지를 명령한 브라질 대법원 판사 알렉산드르 드 모라이스를 상대로 제1 수정헌법 보호를 위반했다는 소송을 제기했습니다. 이 소송은 플로리다 중부 지방법원에 제출되었으며, 이러한 명령이 미국에서 집행될 수 없음을 선언하려고 합니다.
이 사건은 2021년에 브라질을 떠난 정치적 반체제 인사와 관련이 있으며, 그의 송환 요청은 2024년 3월에 미국에서 거부되었습니다. 이 거부에도 불구하고 모라이스는 미국 플랫폼에서 반체제 인사의 콘텐츠를 겨냥한 검열 명령을 계속 추구했습니다. 2023년 12월, 럼블은 콘텐츠 삭제 요구에 따르기보다는 브라질에서의 접근을 일시적으로 비활성화했습니다.
소송은 외국 법원이 미국 플랫폼에서의 발언을 미국 정부의 승인 없이 일방적으로 규정할 수 없다고 주장합니다. TMTG는 TRUTH Social의 운영을 위해 럼블의 서비스에 의존하고 있어 이 소송에 참여했습니다. 여기에는 클라우드 호스팅 및 비디오 스트리밍이 포함됩니다.
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) et Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) ont déposé une plainte contre le juge de la Cour suprême brésilienne Alexandre de Moraes pour avoir violé les protections du Premier Amendement en ordonnant la suspension de comptes basés aux États-Unis. La plainte, déposée auprès du tribunal de district des États-Unis pour le district moyen de Floride, vise à déclarer ces ordonnances inappliquées aux États-Unis.
L'affaire concerne un dissident politique qui a fui le Brésil en 2021 et dont la demande d'extradition a été rejetée par les États-Unis en mars 2024. Malgré ce rejet, Moraes a continué à poursuivre des ordonnances de censure ciblant le contenu du dissident sur les plateformes américaines. En décembre 2023, Rumble a temporairement désactivé l'accès au Brésil plutôt que de se conformer aux demandes de suppression de contenu.
La plainte soutient que les tribunaux étrangers ne peuvent pas unilatéralement dicter la liberté d'expression sur les plateformes américaines sans l'autorisation du gouvernement américain. TMTG a rejoint la plainte car elle dépend des services de Rumble pour les opérations de TRUTH Social, y compris l'hébergement cloud et la diffusion vidéo.
Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) und Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) haben eine Klage gegen den brasilianischen Oberster Gerichtshof Richter Alexandre de Moraes eingereicht, da er durch die Anordnung zur Aussetzung von in den USA ansässigen Konten die Rechte des Ersten Verfassungszusatzes verletzt hat. Die Klage, die beim US-Bezirksgericht für den mittleren Distrikt von Florida eingereicht wurde, zielt darauf ab, diese Anordnungen in den Vereinigten Staaten für nicht durchsetzbar zu erklären.
Der Fall dreht sich um einen politischen Dissidenten, der 2021 aus Brasilien geflohen ist und dessen Auslieferungsantrag im März 2024 von den USA abgelehnt wurde. Trotz dieser Ablehnung verfolgte Moraes weiterhin Zensuranordnungen, die auf die Inhalte des Dissidenten auf amerikanischen Plattformen abzielten. Im Dezember 2023 deaktivierte Rumble vorübergehend den Zugriff in Brasilien, anstatt den Anforderungen zur Löschung von Inhalten nachzukommen.
Die Klage argumentiert, dass ausländische Gerichte nicht einseitig die Meinungsfreiheit auf amerikanischen Plattformen ohne Genehmigung der US-Regierung diktieren können. TMTG trat der Klage bei, da es auf die Dienste von Rumble für den Betrieb von TRUTH Social angewiesen ist, einschließlich Cloud-Hosting und Video-Streaming.
- Strong stance on protecting platform independence and user rights could enhance brand value
- Previous successful resistance to censorship demands demonstrates company's commitment to principles
- Strategic alliance with TMTG strengthens legal position
- Potential legal costs and resources required for litigation
- Risk of business disruption in international markets
- Possible regulatory backlash in other jurisdictions
Insights
The joint lawsuit filed by Rumble and TRUTH Social against Brazilian Justice Moraes represents a pivotal legal battle with significant implications for digital platforms and their investors. This case transcends typical corporate litigation, touching on fundamental issues of digital sovereignty and international jurisdiction that could reshape how U.S.-based tech companies operate globally.
Several critical aspects warrant investor attention:
- The lawsuit challenges the authority of foreign courts to regulate U.S.-based digital platforms, potentially establishing important precedents for the entire tech sector
- Rumble's previous stance against Brazilian censorship demands, which led to temporary market withdrawal, demonstrates the company's commitment to its operational principles, even at the cost of market access
- The involvement of TRUTH Social highlights the interconnected nature of digital platform infrastructure, as TMTG relies on Rumble's cloud services
From a business perspective, this legal challenge carries both risks and opportunities:
- Short-term operational risks include potential legal costs and regulatory uncertainty
- Long-term strategic advantages could emerge if the court ruling strengthens protections for U.S.-based platforms against foreign censorship demands
- The outcome could influence Rumble's market positioning and competitive advantage in the content hosting space
The case's resolution will likely establish important precedents for how U.S. digital platforms navigate conflicting international regulatory demands while maintaining their core business operations and user base integrity. For investors, this represents a critical inflection point in assessing the regulatory risk profile of digital platform investments.
LONGBOAT KEY, Fla, Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM), the video-sharing platform and cloud services provider, today announced that it has filed a lawsuit along with the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG—owners of TRUTH Social) against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, alleging that Moraes violated the free speech protections of the First Amendment when he ordered the suspension of the U.S.-based accounts of a specific well-known, politically outspoken user. Rumble and TMTG filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and seek a declaration that de Moraes’ orders are unenforceable in the United States. Neither Rumble nor TMTG have any entities, operations, employees, bank accounts, or businesses in Brazil.
“Allowing Justice Moraes to muzzle a vocal user on an American digital outlet would jeopardize our country’s bedrock commitment to open and robust debate,” the lawsuit reads. “Neither extraterritorial dictates nor judicial overreach from abroad can override the freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution and law.”
Rumble and TMTG claim that not only do Moraes’ orders violate U.S. public policy by undermining America’s basic principle of free speech, but they also violate U.S. sovereignty by asserting that a Brazilian court can exercise jurisdiction over an American company engaged in U.S.-based activity without the consent of the U.S. government.
The Rumble user Moraes targeted with his gag order was identified in the complaint as Political Dissident A, a former priest and independent journalist who fled Brazil for the United States in 2021 after he was charged with various crimes for the simple act of giving voice to information that Moraes found upsetting and labeled “disinformation.” The justice also issued an order for the political dissident’s detention and attempted, unsuccessfully, to have him extradited to Brazil for trial for his alleged speech crimes.
“This case is a landmark battle for free speech in the digital age,” said Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski. “In March 2024, the U.S. government formally rejected Brazil’s request to extradite the political dissident, ruling that the charges were nothing more than 'crimes of opinion' and violated fundamental free speech protections. This should have ended Moraes’ pursuit of the political dissident. Instead, he is now attempting to sidestep the U.S. legal system entirely—using secret censorship orders to pressure American companies into banning the political dissident worldwide.”
“The United States has established legal processes for recognizing and enforcing foreign court orders, including Brazil, but those processes require review and approval by U.S. authorities,” said Rumble’s attorneys E. Martin De Luca & Matthew L. Schwartz of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. “Alexandre de Moraes is attempting to sidestep U.S. law entirely. Rumble and Trump Media’s lawsuit seeks the protection of a U.S. federal court to ensure that American businesses remain governed by American law and that no foreign court can unilaterally dictate what speech is allowed on American platforms without proper authorization from the U.S. government.”
Justice Moraes has a troubling history of unlawful, authoritarian censorship of online platforms, including Rumble, which permit free speech on topics that do not meet his personal approval. In December 2023, he demanded that Rumble remove content from a certain creator on the platform. Rather than comply with this unlawful attack on free expression, Pavlovski elected to disable all access to the platform from within Brazil in protest.
Earlier this month, Justice Moraes abruptly rescinded its censorship order and Rumble restored access to the people of that country. But within days, Moraes became dissatisfied with Political Dissident A content and demanded that the dissident’s account be suspended or else.
After the U.S. rejected his extradition request of Political Dissident A, Moraes sought to enforce his orders by requiring Brazilian lawyers previously affiliated with Rumble to facilitate service of his censorship directives. The lawsuit contends that this constitutes an improper attempt to manufacture jurisdiction over a U.S.-based company.
Pavlovski has publicly decried Moraes’ heavy-handed censorship tactics before, including as a witness before the Global Human Rights Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.
“We received requests from the Brazilian government to remove certain creators from our platform. The content did not violate our terms and conditions, but instead shared opinions that were ‘unpopular’ in Brazil at the time,” Pavlovski testified. “Every totalitarian regime that has crushed the rights of individuals, has sought to control what people can say and hear. It’s never the good guys doing the censoring.”
This case has broad implications for free speech and the jurisdictional limits of foreign courts. If foreign judges can extend their censorship rulings to U.S. companies, it raises serious concerns about international legal overreach and the application of First Amendment protections. The lawsuit seeks to ensure that U.S. companies remain governed by U.S. law and constitutional standards.
TMTG is a plaintiff in the suit because it relies on Rumble’s back-end services for TRUTH Social, including cloud hosting and video streaming. These extraterritorial demands threaten to erase lawful American speech and disrupt TRUTH Social’s core functionality within the United States.
ABOUT RUMBLE
Rumble is a high-growth video platform and cloud services provider, founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Chris Pavlovski, which is creating an independent infrastructure intended to make it impervious to cancellation or censorship by Big Tech. In the most recent numbers publicly available, Rumble, which went public in September 2022, reported 67 million Monthly Active Users in the 3rd Quarter of 2024, up from 53 million the previous quarter, or an increase of
On Election Night 2024, concurrent viewers peaked at a record of nearly 1.8 million, according to StreamCharts. Following the election, the Rumble app reached #3 in the Apple App Store in the Photo & Video category, ahead of YouTube. Rumble’s mission is to restore the internet to its roots by making it free and open once again.
For more information, visit: corp.rumble.com.
Contact: press@rumble.com
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