Google faces an enormous fine of roughly 2 undecillion rubles (around $2.5 decillion) in Russia for refusing to unblock accounts of pro-Kremlin and state media outlets, according to RBC. 😳💰
The penalties started with daily fines of 100,000 rubles in 2020, doubling weekly after lawsuits from outlets like Tsargrad and RIA FAN. Despite its $307 billion revenue in 2023, Google is unlikely to pay this massive fine.
Seventeen Russian media outlets, including Channel One and the RT-affiliated Zvezda, have filed lawsuits against Google.
YouTube blocked these outlets over their support for the Ukraine invasion, leading Moscow to impose fines without fully banning the platform. Google’s Russian subsidiary declared bankruptcy in 2022, ceasing operations amid Western sanctions related to the conflict.
