Russia Fines Google $390 Mn
Alphabet-owned search giant, Google was fined 21.8 billion roubles (USD 387 million) by a Russian court for a repeated failure to remove content that Moscow deemed illegal, which include "fake news" about the conflict in Ukraine, according to Russia's communications regulator Interfax news agency.
Last year, Google was fined 7 billion roubles (USD 129 million) which makes this the second biggest fine based on a percentage of Google's turnover in Russia.
Moscow has long objected to foreign tech platforms' distribution of content that falls foul of its restrictions. But the simmering dispute has erupted into a full-on battle since Moscow assembled its armed forces before sending them into Ukraine in February.
Alphabet's YouTube has been a particular target of the state's ire but, unlike Twitter and Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, it has not been blocked.
According to the Russian regulator, YouTube had not deleted "fakes about the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation" while also permitting content promoting extremist views and calls for children to participate in unauthorised protests
Earlier, Google's Russian subsidiary bank account was seized prompting the company to file for bankruptcy.
"The Russian authorities seizure of Google Russia's bank account has made it untenable for our Russia office to function, including employing and paying Russia-based employees, paying suppliers and vendors, and meeting other financial obligations," a Google spokesperson had said
Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the latest fine.
