Online video platform Rumble will be shutting down in France after the government demanded it remove Russian news outlets from the platform. .“Users with unpopular views are free to access our platforms on the same terms as our millions of other users,” said Rumble in a Tuesday statement. .“Accordingly, we have decided to disable access to Rumble for users in France while we challenge the legality of the government’s demands.” .Rumble was founded in 2013 by technology entrepreneur Chris Pavlovski. It hosts a number of conservative public figures who have been censored by other social media platforms, and it has been described as alt-tech. .Rumble said as part of its mission to restore a free and open internet, it has “committed not to move the goalposts on our content policies.” .The statement said the decision will not have a material effect on the company, as France represents less than 1% of users. It said the French people will lose access to a wide range of videos because of the government’s demands. .“We hope the French government reconsiders its decision so we can restore access soon,” said Rumble. .Rumble lambasted mainstream media outlets in April for attempting to control freedom of expression after the Globe and Mail asked it questions. .READ MORE: Rumble calls out corporate media for censorship push.“There is a reason the public has radically turned against both the corporate media (such as your outlet) and Big Tech: Because you have arrogantly claimed for yourselves the power to decide for the public what information they can and cannot be trusted to hear and what views they can and cannot express,” it said. .“By stark contrast, the reason Rumble is growing so rapidly is because we trust adults to make decisions for themselves about what ideas they can express, and we trust them to make up their own minds after hearing all sides.”
