A Russian court recently ruled that Google owes an unimaginable $20 decillion in fines to Russian media for blocking their content—a figure that could keep growing. This fine, in context, dwarfs the world economy; the World Bank estimates global GDP at around $100 trillion, making the fine a financial impossibility. In contrast, Google’s latest quarterly revenue of $88 billion barely scratches the surface.
The case traces back to 2020, when YouTube blocked the Russian ultra-nationalist channel Tsargrad following U.S. sanctions against its owner. More Russian channels, especially those associated with state interests like Zvezda (the Ministry of Defence channel), joined the lawsuit after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Now, 17 channels are seeking damages.
Under Russian law, Google faces administrative penalties under Art. 13.41 of the Administrative Offenses Code for YouTube’s actions. Lawyer Ivan Morozov stated that a court ordered Google to reinstate the banned channels, issuing a daily fine of 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,025) and doubling weekly. This compounding fine has led to a figure even the judge admitted held “many, many zeros.”
Google, however, seems unphased. Having suspended operations in Russia in 2022 amid government asset seizures, the company reported ongoing legal proceedings in Russia in its latest earnings statement. Alphabet explained that penalties have been issued related to account closures of sanctioned entities, but it does not foresee significant financial harm from these judgments.
For now, Russia’s legal battle against Google continues globally, though experts doubt Russia can seize Google’s international assets. Google, meanwhile, has yet to respond to the latest ruling.
Read More: Google Photos to Expose AI-Generated Images
