Russian court slaps Google with astronomical fine for restricting state media
A Russian court has levied an unprecedented fine against Google, demanding two undecillion roubles—a figure with 36 zeroes—for limiting access to Russian state media channels on YouTube. In dollar terms, this staggering amount equates to $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, a sum vastly surpassing Google’s estimated $2 trillion market value and even eclipsing the world’s total GDP, pegged at $110 trillion by the International Monetary Fund.
The fine’s colossal scale is due to its rapid accumulation, as highlighted by Russian state news agency Tass. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the matter, admitting he “cannot even pronounce this number” and urged Google’s leadership to take notice of the situation. Google has yet to issue a public response and did not reply to a BBC request for comment.
The fine is linked to restrictions Google placed on 17 Russian media channels on YouTube. This censorship began in 2020 and intensified after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to most Western companies halting operations in Russia due to sanctions. Russian media channels also faced restrictions across Europe, sparking retaliatory actions by Moscow.
While Google declared its Russian subsidiary bankrupt in 2022 and ceased commercial operations such as advertising in Russia, its products remain accessible. This fine represents the latest flashpoint in a series of escalating tensions between Russia and the tech giant. In recent years, Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has repeatedly penalized Google for restricting access to Russian media and content deemed “prohibited.” With press freedoms tightly controlled and independent media virtually nonexistent in Russia, the conflict underscores the deepening clash between Moscow’s media policies and international tech platforms over content control and censorship.
