A Russian court has fined Google two undecided rubles – 36 followed by two zeros – for banning Russian state media channels on YouTube.
In dollar terms this means that the tech giant has been asked to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Despite being one of the wealthiest companies in the world, this is significantly higher than Google’s $2 trillion valuation.
In fact, it is much more than the total world GDP, which is estimated at $110 trillion by the International Monetary Fund.
The fine has reached such a high level because – State news agency TASS says – It doubles every day if payment is not made.
According to Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that he “can’t even pronounce this number” but urged “Google management to pay attention.”
The company has not commented publicly or responded to the BBC’s request for a statement.
Russian media outlet RBC reports The fine on Google is related to the ban on content from 17 Russian media channels on YouTube.
Although it began in 2020, it escalated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later.
With this most of the western companies moved out of Russia Doing business there is also strictly prohibited by sanctions,
Russian media outlets also banned in Europe – Indications of retaliatory action from Moscow,
The development is the latest tension between Russia and the US tech giant.
In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accuses Google of restricting YouTube’s access to Russian media outletsIncluding RT and Sputnik, and supporting “illegal protest activity”.
Then, in July, 2022, Russia fines Google 21.1 billion rubles (£301 million) for failing to restrict access to “prohibited” material and other material about the war in Ukraine.
There is virtually no press freedom in Russia, with no independent news outlets. freedom of expression Severely cut back.
