NewsGoogle hit with unprecedented $2.5 decillion fines in Russia

Google hit with unprecedented $2.5 decillion fines in Russia

Google faced fines in Russia amounting to 2.5 decillion dollars for not restoring pro-Kremlin media accounts. The information was reported by the RBC portal, citing anonymous sources. Seventeen Russian television channels, including the state-owned Channel One and the military channel Zvezda, filed lawsuits against Google.

Russia imposed a fine on Google.
Russia imposed a fine on Google.
Images source: © Adobe Stock | SUNDRY PHOTOGRAPHY
Michał Krawiel

29 October 2024 21:11

Google is facing troubles related to massive financial penalties in Russia, reaching 2 undecillion rubles, equivalent to 2.5 decillion dollars. These fines result from the refusal to reinstate pro-Kremlin media accounts on YouTube. According to RBC, the penalties began accumulating from 2020 when media outlets like Tsargrad and RIA FAN won lawsuits against Google, writes the themoscowtimes portal.

Russian media vs. Google

A total of 17 Russian television channels, including the state-owned Channel One and the military channel Zvezda, filed lawsuits against Google. YouTube, owned by Google, blocked these media outlets due to their support for the invasion of Ukraine. Moscow responded with fines but did not decide to block the service.

Google's bankruptcy in Russia

Google's Russian branch declared bankruptcy in the summer of 2022 and was formally recognized as bankrupt in the fall of the same year. Alphabet Inc., Google's owner, earlier halted advertising in Russia, complying with Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, writes the themoscowtimes portal.

Several factors influenced Google's decision. In December 2021, a court imposed a turnover fine of 7.2 billion rubles (approximately 130 million CAD) on Google's Russian branch for failing to comply with the decision of the Russian state media regulator Roskomnadzor, which ordered the company to remove certain content.

In May two years ago, court bailiffs initiated proceedings to enforce the fine. In 2022, the court confiscated assets of Google's Russian branch twice, totalling 500 million rubles (approximately 9 million CAD), to secure funds in cases brought by state-owned television channels NTW and TNT, reported Meduza.

In May 2022, the company's account was seized, making it "impossible for our Russian office to operate, including maintaining employment and paying their salaries, paying suppliers and subcontractors, and fulfilling other financial obligations.

© Daily Wrap
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.