Russia fines Google more money than there is in the world
Russia slaps Google with a fine worth two undecillion roubles - more money than there is in the world - for allegedly restricting the state's media channels on YouTube.
Russia has fined Google more money than there is in the world.
The tech giant has been ordered to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 – two undecillion roubles – by a Russian court for restricting the state's media channels on YouTube.
The Russian News Agency TASS reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying he “cannot even pronounce this number” but pressed “Google management to pay attention."
The state agency added that the fine – which is way more than the $2 trillion the tech titan is worth – has reached a mind-boggling figure because it is growing due to non-payment, with threats it will double daily if it does not stump up the cash within nine months.
Russian media outlet RBC reports it all comes down to Google restricting 17 Russian media channels on its video streaming platform – with it only being allowed back to the state’s market if it complies with the court order.
It also says the case was filed privately in 2020 after Tsargrad TV and media organisation RIA FAN were blocked because of US sanctions laws.
Even though its commercial services, including advertising, were ceased and the local subsidiary went bankrupt in 2022, the American company’s products are not fully banned.
Russia previously slapped the tech firm with a penalty of 21.1 billion roubles for failing to censor “prohibited” material regarding the ongoing war with Ukraine and other content.
