A Russian court is making headlines with an astonishing ruling, slapping Google with a record-breaking fine of roughly $2.5 decillion (two undecillion rubles) for refusing to reinstate pro-Kremlin media outlets on its platform. The result of a grueling four-year legal battle, this colossal sum dwarfs the estimated global GDP of $100 trillion, as reported by the World Bank.
The ban of the ultra-nationalist Russian channel Tsargrad from YouTube in 2020, due to U.S. sanctions, ignited a protracted legal battle. Currently, 17 Russian media outlets, including Zvezda – owned by Putin’s Ministry of Defence – are suing Google for blocking their content. A Russian court has ordered Google to pay a daily fine of 100,000 rubles ($1,025), with a warning that the amount would double every day, resulting in an astronomical total. This development highlights the escalating tensions between Russia and major Western tech companies.
According to lawyer Ivan Morozov, a Russian court has held Google liable under Article 13.41 of the Administrative Offenses Code for removing certain channels from its platform. If Google fails to comply within nine months, the penalties will continue to escalate indefinitely, potentially resulting in a substantial financial burden.
The judge’s remark, “This case involves many, many zeros,” really drives home the staggering nature of the ruling. To put it into perspective, Google’s quarterly revenues of $88 billion seem modest compared to the colossal fine imposed by the court.
The ruling against Google underscores ongoing tensions between Russia and Western tech giants, despite the massive fine being considered uncollectible. Google halted operations in Russia in 2022 due to government actions, including bank account seizures. This followed a significant presence, with over 200 employees, most of whom were relocated or laid off.
Russia’s efforts to seize Google’s global assets are expected to spark a prolonged international legal battle, according to legal experts. Nevertheless, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, remains optimistic. In its recent earnings report, Alphabet expressed confidence that ongoing legal disputes will not have a significant adverse impact on the company’s operations.
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