US Judge Rules Trump Media, Rumble Can Ignore Brazil’s Censorship Orders

The Epoch Times Header

A U.S. judge ruled that Rumble and Trump Media need not comply with a Brazilian censorship order targeting the U.S. accounts of a Brazilian political dissident.

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that video-sharing platform Rumble and Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, are not required to comply with gag orders issued by a Brazilian Supreme Court justice.

The orders, issued by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, had demanded the removal of U.S.-based accounts belonging to a prominent supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in a case raising concerns over international judicial overreach and free speech rights in the United States.

In a Feb. 25 ruling, U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven found that Moraes’s orders were unenforceable in the United States because they were not properly served under international law, including the Hague Convention and the U.S.–Brazil Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

“Under well-established law, Plaintiffs are not obligated to comply with the directives and pronouncements, and no one is authorized or obligated to assist in their enforcement against Plaintiffs or their interests here in the United States,” the judge wrote.

However, the judge denied without prejudice a request for a temporary restraining order filed by Rumble and TMTG, ruling that the case is not ripe for judicial review because no enforcement action had been taken against the two companies in the United States. This means the case could be revived if Brazilian authorities or another entity attempt to enforce the orders.

The lawsuit, brought by Rumble and TMTG on Feb. 19, accused Moraes of engaging in illegal censorship by issuing gag orders to suppress the U.S. accounts of a “well-known politically outspoken user” of Rumble, referred to in the complaint as “Political Dissident A,” later identified as Allan dos Santos. A supporter of Bolsonaro and a fugitive in Brazil, Santos is under investigation for allegedly spreading false information and hate speech.

Moraes’s orders required Rumble to suspend Santos’s accounts, block new ones, disclose user data, and appoint a legal representative in Brazil to submit to Brazilian judicial authority. The orders also imposed escalating fines and threatened to shut down Rumble’s operations in Brazil for noncompliance.

In their lawsuit, Rumble and TMTG argue that Moraes’s actions violated constitutional protections of free speech and contravened other U.S. laws, including Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from legal liability for user-generated content.

“The Gag Orders, as issued, censor legitimate political discourse in the United States, undermining fundamental constitutional protections enshrined in the First Amendment,” the plaintiffs said in the complaint. “Justice Moraes’s extraterritorial demands inflict immediate and irreparable harm on Rumble and TMTG by undermining lawful American political discourse, a right central to free speech under U.S. principles.”

By Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Targeting Military Installations, IP Theft: A Look at Criminal Cases Involving Chinese Students

Trump admin’s pledge to “aggressively” revoke visas of Chinese students was made after years of concern over CCP efforts to infiltrate U.S. academia.

Big Tech Liberals are Using AI to Censor Conservatives

The Federal Trade Commission is gathering information to expose how technology platforms have violated the law in censoring Americans.

Unveiled: Gynocrats’ Brave and Stunning Strategy to Woo Back Male Voters

There’s nothing — nothing — that drives Democrats more bananas than...

Ship of Fools

A rudderless ship drifts with currents. A freighter with no pilot is stuck at the dock. Rudderless and stuck are perfect ways to describe the Democrat party.

Wolves Wreak Havoc on Cattle Herds in California

Descendants of rewilded wolves are taking heavy toll on cattle in Nor. CA and Oregon, killing animals and putting stress on cow-calf operations and pocketbooks.

News

Supreme Court Allows Trump Admin to Remove Parole Status of Immigrants From 4 Countries

Supreme Court temporarily stayed lower court decision halting Trump admin’s removal of parole for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

FBI’s Bongino Says Agency Probing COVID-19 Origin Cover-Up as New Strain Drives Cases

FBI is investigating alleged cover-up of origins of COVID-19, agency’s deputy dir., Dan Bongino, said as a new strain of virus circulates in parts of the world.

SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Crypto Exchange Binance

SEC on May 29 voluntarily dismissed its civil lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Binance, following a nearly two-year legal battle.

Intel Agency Employee Charged With Trying to Give Classified Docs to Foreign Government

IT specialist employed by DIA was arrested and charged with attempting to transmit classified info to an officer or agent of a foreign govt, DOJ said.

Fed’s Powell Says Interest Rate Decisions Will Be ‘Non-Political’ in Meeting With Trump

Fed Res Chair Jerome Powell said decisions on interest rates would remain grounded in economic data and free from political influence.

FBI Director Says ‘Definitive Answer’ Coming on Key Jan. 6 Question

FBI Dir Kash Patel said agency will attempt to produce answer on whether there were FBI agents or sources in crowd at U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Tariffs Temporarily Reinstated by Appeals Court, Reversing Lower Court Order

A federal appeals court temporarily paused a lower-court ruling that struck down President Donald Trump’s tariffs on a wide range of countries.

DeSantis Signs Gold Money Legislation Into Law

Gov. DeSantis signed “transactional gold” legislation to help Floridians use precious metals in commerce and savings, to protect purchasing power from inflation.
spot_img

Related Articles