The Government of Russia has levied a fine on Google well over the world’s GDP. The fine reportedly sits at $20 decillion following legal claims from 17 Russian TV channels.
Russian business newspaper RBC exposed the details this week. Google has been hit with compound fines in Russian courts, a result of the restrictions it placed on Russian propaganda channels operating on YouTube.
By comparison, global GDP is estimated at about $110 trillion by the International Monetary Fund. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is valued at about $2 trillion.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke about the fine during a news briefing. “I can’t even pronounce this figure right,” he said. He added that “this fine is filled with symbolism.”
Peskov emphasized that “Google should not restrict the activities of our broadcasters, and Google is doing this.”
Russian state-run outlet Tass reported that a court earlier ordered Google to restore blocked YouTube channels. Failure to comply could mean escalating charges. The fine doubles every week, contributing to the astronomical amount.
In August this summer, Russia experienced a major outage on YouTube. The incident showed that YouTube is one of the very few remaining websites through which citizens can receive independent information. Independent news sites are blocked hard in Russia, where press freedom has shrunk dramatically.
The continuing fight between Russian authorities and Google over the Russia situation reflects the broader battle taking place in the control of information. The Russian authorities are increasingly exasperated by platforms perceived to be limiting their narratives.
Observers respond to the fine with observations about the implications this carries for international business operations in Russia. Companies may rethink their strategy of engagement given such punitive action.
All this happened as the world watched in great suspense, seeing how things would turn out and consequences for tech companies around the world.
