Video-sharing platform Rumble announced it will restore full access to its services in France after a victory in a French court.
Yesterday, a French judge ruled against the government’s censorship demands, siding with Rumble in a landmark decision.
The case stemmed from a 2022 incident in which a French government official emailed Rumble demanding the removal of certain content, specifically videos from Russian State media, including Russia Today (RT), under threat of legal action.
Rather than comply, Rumble proactively blocked access to its platform in France to avoid censorship.
The court ruled that email from a Cabinet official did not constitute an enforceable legal action, effectively invalidating the demand.
As a result, Rumble immediately began restoring access.
Rumble founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski said in a statement: “Freedom wins out again and we are thrilled that the French people will once again have access to the Rumble public square, where the free exchange of ideas happens around the clock.
“France has a rich history of fighting for individual freedoms, which aligns seamlessly with Rumble, as we are a freedom-first platforming everything we do. We look forward to turning the page in France and beginning a new chapter.”
Rumble was founded in 2013 and has positioned itself as a free-speech alternative to YouTube. The platform emphasises minimal content moderation, arguing that it only removes material that violates the law, rather than enforcing stricter community guidelines like its competitors.
This approach has attracted users and creators who feel restricted by YouTube’s policies, particularly those with Conservative or controversial viewpoints.
Conversely, it has been targeted by several governments and numerous progressive organisations that accuse it of spreading misinformation and hate speech.
To avoid being censored or taken down by Big Tech organisations, Rumble also invests in its own cloud infrastructure reducing its reliance on others.
It is currently blocked in Brazil after it refused to remove a user account of Allan dos Santos, a supporter of opposition leader Jair Bolsonaro.
The block was ordered by the controversial Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in February.
Pavlovski claimed it was an illegal and secret order that he believes has no authority over a US-based platform.
The current US administration has a tense relationship with the Socialist leadership of Brazil, accusing it of going after the opposition and against free speech. In late July, the US slapped Brazil with 50 per cent tariffs.
Major news from the French courts.
Rumble is back in France after a ruling in our favor.
Free speech wins, Rumble is going global!
— Chris Pavlovski 🏴☠️ (@chrispavlovski) October 14, 2025
