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| Russia fines Google more money than there is in entire world | Russia fines Google more money than there is in entire world |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Russian court has imposed the fine on the US Tech giant | A Russian court has imposed the fine on the US Tech giant |
| A Russian court has fined Google two undecillion roubles - a two followed by 36 zeroes - for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube. | A Russian court has fined Google two undecillion roubles - a two followed by 36 zeroes - for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube. |
| In dollar terms that means the tech giant has been told to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. | In dollar terms that means the tech giant has been told to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. |
| Despite being one of the world's wealthiest companies, that is considerably more than the $2 trillion Google is worth. | Despite being one of the world's wealthiest companies, that is considerably more than the $2 trillion Google is worth. |
| In fact, it is far greater than the world’s total GDP, which is estimated by the International Monetary Fund to be $110 trillion. | In fact, it is far greater than the world’s total GDP, which is estimated by the International Monetary Fund to be $110 trillion. |
| The fine has reached such a gargantuan level because - as state news agency Tass has highlighted, external - it is rapidly increasing all the time. | |
| According to Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he "cannot even pronounce this number" but urged "Google management to pay attention." | According to Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he "cannot even pronounce this number" but urged "Google management to pay attention." |
| The company has not commented publicly or responded to a BBC request for a statement. | The company has not commented publicly or responded to a BBC request for a statement. |
| A fine mess | A fine mess |
| Russia media outlet RBC reports, external the fine on Google relates to the restriction of content of 17 Russian media channels on YouTube. | Russia media outlet RBC reports, external the fine on Google relates to the restriction of content of 17 Russian media channels on YouTube. |
| While this started in 2020, it escalated after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later. | While this started in 2020, it escalated after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later. |
| That saw most Western companies pull out of Russia, with doing business there also tightly restricted by sanctions. | That saw most Western companies pull out of Russia, with doing business there also tightly restricted by sanctions. |
| Russian media outlets were also banned in Europe - prompting retaliatory measures from Moscow. | Russian media outlets were also banned in Europe - prompting retaliatory measures from Moscow. |
| In 2022, Google’s local subsidiary was declared bankrupt and the company has stopped offering its commercial services in Russia, such as advertising. | In 2022, Google’s local subsidiary was declared bankrupt and the company has stopped offering its commercial services in Russia, such as advertising. |
| However, its products are not completely banned in the country. | However, its products are not completely banned in the country. |
| This development is the latest escalation between Russia and the US tech giant. | This development is the latest escalation between Russia and the US tech giant. |
| In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protest activity". | In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protest activity". |
| Then, in July, 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1bn rouble (£301m) for failing to restrict access to what it called "prohibited" material about the war in Ukraine and other content. | Then, in July, 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1bn rouble (£301m) for failing to restrict access to what it called "prohibited" material about the war in Ukraine and other content. |
| There is virtually no press freedom in Russia, with independent news outlets and freedom of expression severely curtailed. | There is virtually no press freedom in Russia, with independent news outlets and freedom of expression severely curtailed. |