A Russian court has imposed a staggering fine of two undecillion roubles—equivalent to a two followed by 36 zeros—on Google for allegedly restricting access to Russian state media channels on YouTube. In dollar terms, this amounts to approximately $20 septillion, a sum that far exceeds Google’s total market capitalization of around $2 trillion and even eclipses the world’s estimated GDP of $110 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The enormous penalty is a result of the fine doubling every day that it remains unpaid, as reported by the state news agency Tass. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the absurdity of the sum, stating, “I cannot even pronounce this number,” but urged “Google management to pay attention” to the ruling.
The fine is linked to Google’s restrictions on 17 Russian media channels on YouTube, a situation that dates back to 2020 but intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. After the invasion, many Western companies withdrew from the Russian market, while business operations faced stringent sanctions. This led to a series of retaliatory actions from Moscow, particularly targeting platforms perceived to be restricting Russian media.
This latest legal action is part of an ongoing escalation between Russia and the tech giant. In May 2021, Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, accused Google of limiting YouTube access to Russian media outlets such as RT and Sputnik, while also claiming that the company supported “illegal protest activity.” Subsequently, in July 2022, Google was fined 21.1 billion roubles (approximately $301 million) for failing to restrict access to content that the Russian government deemed “prohibited,” including information about the war in Ukraine.
In Russia, press freedom is virtually non-existent, with independent news outlets facing severe restrictions and censorship. The Kremlin has implemented stringent measures to control information, limiting the public’s access to alternative viewpoints and stifling dissent.
Google has not publicly commented on the recent fine or responded to a request for a statement from the BBC. The situation highlights the increasing tensions between Western tech companies and the Russian government, as the latter continues to impose heavy penalties in an effort to control the narrative surrounding its actions both domestically and internationally. As the legal battle unfolds, the ramifications for Google and its operations in Russia remain uncertain.
