Aug 26, 2024 at 01:43
Chris Pavlovski, the founder and CEO of Rumble, a video-sharing platform promoting itself as resistant to “cancel culture,” announced his departure from Europe following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities.
Pavlovski, a Canadian national, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, August 25, that he had “safely departed” Europe. He also claimed that France had “threatened Rumble” and overstepped by arresting Durov, the head of the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram. In November 2022, Rumble restricted access to users in France after the government requested the removal of certain Russian news sources, a move Rumble said it was contesting in court.
Pavlovski also highlighted that Rumble was blocked in Russia earlier this year after refusing to comply with the country’s censorship demands. He affirmed that Rumble is currently engaged in legal proceedings in France and expressed hope for Durov’s immediate release.
Although Pavlovski did not disclose the country he left or his current location, Rumble has yet to issue a public comment.
The brand new newsletter with insights, market analysis and daily opportunities.
Let’s grow together!
Rumble, headquartered in Florida and Ontario, is known for its more relaxed content moderation policies, drawing a conservative-leaning user base.
Pavel Durov, a Russian-born French citizen, was arrested at Paris–Le Bourget Airport on August 24, reportedly due to an ongoing French judicial police investigation. The investigation centers around Telegram’s alleged non-cooperation with authorities in cases involving criminal activities such as child exploitation, drug trafficking, fraud, and terrorism.
Telegram, in a statement, emphasized its compliance with European Union laws, stating that its moderation practices align with industry standards and are constantly improving. The platform also described accusations of platform abuse as “absurd,” noting that nearly a billion people rely on Telegram for essential information. The company maintained that Durov has nothing to hide, as he frequently travels throughout Europe.
As of now, French authorities have not issued a public statement but are expected to address the situation by Monday, August 26.
9
