Russian authorities have imposed an unprecedented fine on Google, demanding a payment exceeding the world’s total GDP for blocking pro-Kremlin media outlets.
Judges in Moscow have set the penalty at a staggering 20 decillion dollars – a sum many times greater than the estimated $100-trillion global economy.
To write out the fine in full would require 20 followed by 33 zeros, Telegraph UK reports.
The fine was initially levied after Google barred Tsargrad TV, a pro-Moscow channel owned by oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, from YouTube four years ago.
Google’s daily fine of 100,000 roubles has since compounded, with the debt reportedly exceeding 2 undecillion roubles, according to lawyer Ivan Morozov, who spoke to the state-owned TASS news agency.
This vast figure has grown as Google subsequently blocked a total of 17 Russian TV channels following international sanctions.
The judge in Moscow reportedly described the fine as “a case in which there are many, many zeros.”
Google shut down its Russian division in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, with the subsidiary later declaring bankruptcy, although services like YouTube remain accessible in Russia.
Recently, The Telegraph disclosed that Russian bailiffs seized over $100 million from Google’s bankrupt local subsidiary, allegedly to support Russia’s war efforts.
According to Google’s court filings, “The bailiffs seized more than $100 million of Google Russia’s assets, even though the amount purportedly due under the judgement at the time was less than $12.5m (1 billion roubles).”
Tsargrad reportedly received 1 billion roubles from the seizure, earmarked for backing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Google is also challenging the enforcement of these fines internationally, with Russian broadcasters pursuing cases in South Africa, Turkey, and Serbia.
Despite these legal challenges, Google’s recent financial report showed resilience, as the company posted a 15 percent revenue increase to $88.3 billion for the past quarter.
“We do not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect,” the company stated in its latest earnings announcement.