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In an unprecedented move, Russia has imposed an astronomical $20 decillion fine—equivalent to a 2 followed by 34 zeroes—on Google, over its refusal to reinstate blocked Russian state-run media channels on YouTube. This figure, which far exceeds any plausible financial scale and dwarfs the global economy many times over, was announced following a ruling that deemed Google in violation of national broadcasting regulations.
The penalty, handed down by a Russian court, comes in response to YouTube’s ban on Russian state-backed media channels, including RT and Sputnik, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. YouTube, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, justified the action by citing policies against content that denies or trivializes violence, with Google ultimately removing over 1,000 channels and 15,000 videos globally for content it deemed supportive of Russia’s narratives on the Ukraine conflict. The platform had initially restricted Russian state media in Europe before extending the ban worldwide.
Russia has countered this move as censorship, seeing it as a suppression of its state-sponsored media. According to Russian officials, the fine amount will double daily if Google does not restore these channels within nine months, signaling the Kremlin’s push for compliance. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, acknowledging the symbolic nature of the fine, stated, “I can’t even pronounce this figure right,” emphasizing the seriousness of the issue for Russia.
The legal proceedings also involve 17 Russian broadcasters who have joined the suit against Google, calling for their channels to be reinstated on YouTube. Russia has been enforcing penalties on international tech companies over content hosting since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Google, unlike some tech companies that ceased operations entirely, continues limited services such as YouTube and Google Search in Russia despite the government seizing its bank accounts last year and Google Russia subsequently filing for bankruptcy.
This latest fine reflects the Kremlin’s ongoing campaign against foreign tech platforms that block or restrict Russian state-sponsored narratives. While YouTube remains accessible in Russia, authorities have signaled the possibility of banning it if restrictions on Russian media persist.
Sources By Agencies
