Russia fines Google for an astronomical amount with 36 zeros
Kyiv • UNN
A Russian court imposed a fine of two undecillion rubles on Google for restricting state channels on YouTube. The amount exceeds the world's GDP and is doubling every day due to non-payment.
A Russian court has fined Google two undecimals of rubles - a two with 36 zeros - for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube, UNN reports, citing the BBC.
Details
Although it is one of the richest companies in the world, it is much more than the $2 trillion that Google is worth.
In fact, this is much more than the global GDP, which, according to the International Monetary Fund, is $110 trillion.
The fine has reached such a gigantic level because, according to state-owned Russian media, it doubles every day when it is not paid.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to RosSIA, admitted that he "can't even pronounce this number" but called on "Google's management to pay attention.
The company did not comment publicly and did not respond to the BBC's request for a statement.
Russian media report that the fine on Google is related to the restriction of content on 17 Russian media channels on YouTube.
Although it began in 2020, the situation escalated after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later.
This has led to the withdrawal of most Western companies from Russia, and business there has also been severely restricted by sanctions.
Russian media outlets were also banned in Europe, prompting retaliation from Moscow.
Addendum
This event was the latest escalation in relations between Russia and the American tech giant.
In May 2021, Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting YouTube's access to Russian media resources, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protest activities.
Then, in July 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1 billion rubles for failing to restrict access to so-called "banned" materials about the war in Ukraine and other content.
