aka Go #### yourself.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/21/video-platform-rumble-rejects-mps-call-to-demonetise-russell-brand

Video platform Rumble rejects MPs’ call to demonetise Russell Brand

Platform says it is ‘inappropriate and dangerous’ for parliament to ‘attempt to control’ who makes money from content


You would think the brave and fearless journos at the fraud could have reached the same conclusion but there we are. I wonder if there will be the flood of opinion pieces attacking the government attempts at ruining someone's business based on (mostly) anonymous accusations. My breath is bated.


Rumble, a video-sharing platform used by Russell Brand, has accused a parliamentary committee of “deeply inappropriate” behaviour after it asked whether the site would suspend payments to the comedian.

Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative chair of the culture, media and sport committee, wrote this week to Rumble’s chief executive, Chris Pavlovski, to express concern that Brand “may be able to profit from his content on the platform”.

Rumble posted its response on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, claiming that it was “deeply inappropriate and dangerous” of parliament to “attempt to control who is allowed to speak on our platform or to earn a living from doing so”.

Dinenage wrote to Rumble after YouTube announced on Tuesday that Brand would no longer receive advertising revenues from his videos.

Dinenage asked whether Brand was able to make money from his videos on Rumble, including his denials of accusations against him, and if so, whether the platform would follow YouTube’s lead.

“We would like to know whether Rumble intends to join YouTube in suspending Mr Brand’s ability to earn money on the platform,” Dinenage wrote. The MP also asked what Rumble was doing to ensure that content creators did not use the platform to undermine the welfare of victims of “inappropriate and potentially illegal behaviour”.

In a public statement posted on X, Rumble called the letter “disturbing” and said parliament’s demands were “deeply inappropriate and dangerous”. The platform added that it was devoted to an internet “where no one arbitrarily dictates which ideas can or cannot be heard, or which citizens may or may not be entitled to a platform”.

Rumble said: “Singling out an individual and demanding his ban is even more disturbing given the absence of any connection between the allegations and his content on Rumble.”

Rumble noted that the allegations against Brand had nothing to do with his content on the platform and pushed back on YouTube’s decision to demonetise Russell Brand’s content, saying that Rumble had “different values” to YouTube and are devoted to defending a “free internet.”

It added: “Although it may be politically and socially easier for Rumble to join a cancel culture mob, doing so would be a violation of our company’s values and mission.”

The platform says it opposes censorship and describes itself as one of the only “neutral” and “independent” platforms. While it is much smaller than platforms such as YouTube or Instagram, it has become popular among “alt-right” groups who may feel they do not get the honest truth from mainstream news and fear being punished on other platforms for controversial opinions.

Brand regularly posts content on Rumble ranging from conspiracy theories to critiques of mainstream media.