Russia Slaps Google With $370-M Fine For 'Content Violations'

Alphabet's Google was fined $21.1 billion roubles ($373 million) by a Moscow court on Monday for repeatedly failing to remove content that Russia deems illegal, such as "fake news" regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Russia's communications regulator told Reuters.

Photo Insert: The penalties were proportional to Google's annual revenue in Russia.

Moscow has always opposed the spread of content that violates its rules on international tech platforms. 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 focus of the state's ire, although it has not been blocked, unlike Twitter and Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram.

The regulator, Roskomnadzor, reported that the Tagansky District Court had fined Google 21.1 billion roubles for failing to restrict access to prohibited content immediately on many occasions, singling out YouTube for particular criticism.

It was stated that YouTube had not removed 'false videos undermining the Russian Federation's armed forces over the course of the special military operation in Ukraine.' It was also stated that YouTube permitted extremist content and appeals for youngsters to engage in unauthorized rallies.

The penalties were proportional to Google's annual revenue in Russia. A comparable penalty of 7.2 billion roubles was imposed late last year.

The bank account of Google's Russian subsidiary has been seized, causing the firm to file for bankruptcy and making it impossible to pay employees and merchants.

Russia asserts that it is undertaking a "special military operation" in Ukraine to defuse a security threat and defend Russia- speaking communities from persecution. Such charges are dismissed by Ukraine and its Western allies as bogus pretexts for an unlawful land grab.

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