A Russian court has ordered Google to pay around $20 trillion in fines for blocking Russian media stations’ content from YouTube, sparking doubts about Moscow’s ability to collect the massive debt. The fine is part of a four-year court case initiated after YouTube banned a pro-Kremlin channel in 2020 due to US sanctions.
Google was found liable under Russian law and ordered to restore the blocked channels. The company faces daily fines of $1,025, with the total increasing by 100-fold every week, making it an almost insurmountable amount. Despite this, Google has stated that it has ongoing legal issues in Russia, but believes they will not have a significant impact.
The decision comes as Google has largely withdrawn from Russia since 2022 due to government actions against its interests. The company has been inactive in the country and faces potential asset seizures worldwide, although these efforts have met limited success.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/29/russian_court_fines_google/