Google faces massive fines in Russia over YouTube dispute
Google’s penalty in Russia has surged to over two undecillion rubles, a 36-digit amount that doubles weekly as the tech company remains at odds with Russian authorities.
The fine originated from Google’s refusal to restore Russian state TV channels on YouTube, as mandated by a Russian court under Article 13.41 of the Administrative Offenses Code.
“Google was called by a Russian court to administrative liability… for removing channels on the YouTube platform,” stated attorney Ivan Morozov, who highlighted the mounting nature of the fines.
The staggering debt, now exceeding $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 in U.S. dollar terms, continues to grow as the company declines to comply.
Roman Yankovsky, an expert from Moscow’s HSE Institute, noted the fine’s rapid expansion could soon surpass the total market value of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
“The claim’s size will soon exceed the value of Google, since it doubles every week,” he commented, adding that within a year, the amount could potentially reach a “googol,” a 1 followed by one hundred zeros.
Yankovsky suggested that Google’s ability to pay the claim is implausible, and with the company’s Russian assets either seized or moved, recovery of the sum seems unlikely.
However, Yankovsky warned that service restrictions, including slower access to Google services or potential blockages, may ensue if the company does not meet the court’s demands.
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the fine “full of symbolism” and urged Google to “remedy the situation” by restoring the channels, stating that doing so would be “the best thing the company can do.”
The fine’s exponential rise and potential service blocks add another layer of tension to Google’s ongoing legal battle in Russia, complicating its presence in the region.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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