A Russian court has imposed a fine of two undecillion roubles on Google, which is equivalent to a two followed by 36 zeros, for its actions in limiting access to Russian state media channels on YouTube.
In terms of U.S. dollars, this penalty amounts to $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
This figure significantly exceeds Google’s estimated worth of $2 trillion, and it is also greater than the total global GDP, which the International Monetary Fund estimates to be around $110 trillion.
Ihe fine has escalated to such an extraordinary amount because, as reported by the state news agency Tass, it doubles each day that it remains unpaid.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the enormity of the fine, stating that he “cannot even pronounce this number,” while urging “Google management to pay attention.”
RBC, a Russian media outlet, reports that the fine imposed on Google pertains to the limitation of content from 17 Russian media channels on YouTube.
This issue began in 2020 but intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later.
As a result, most Western companies withdrew from the Russian market, and business operations there became heavily constrained by sanctions.
Additionally, Russian media outlets faced bans in Europe, leading to retaliatory actions from Moscow. This situation marks the latest escalation in tensions between Russia and the American technology giant.
In May 2021, Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, accused Google of limiting YouTube access for Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and of facilitating “illegal protest activity.”
Subsequently, in July 2022, Russia imposed a fine of 21.1 billion roubles (£301 million) on Google for its failure to restrict access to what it deemed “prohibited” content regarding the war in Ukraine and other related materials.
Press freedom in Russia is virtually nonexistent, with independent news organizations and freedom of expression facing significant repression.
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