Russia imposes symbolic fine of two undecillion rubles on Google for blocking state media
A Russian court has fined Google two undecillion rubles for blocking state media content on YouTube. This amount exceeds the total money in the world and is far greater than Google's net worth of $2.1 trillion.
The Kremlin stated that the fine is largely symbolic, aiming to pressure Google to lift restrictions on Russian channels. Officials have indicated that the fines are part of ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with Russian media regulations.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia has imposed significant fines on social media companies for hosting content critical of the government. YouTube remains accessible in Russia, but authorities have threatened to shut it down over these issues.