Russian Court Fines Google $50.8-M Over Fake Info

A Russian court fined Alphabet's Google on Wednesday 4.6 billion roubles ($50.84 million) for failing to delete so-called "fake" information about the conflict in Ukraine and other topics, TASS news agency said, Alexander Marrow and Filipp Lebedev reported for Reuters.

Russia calls the conflict in Ukraine a "special military operation."

Russia has been at loggerheads with foreign technology companies over content, censorship, data, and local representation in a simmering dispute that intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The RIA news agency said the fine had also been imposed due to Google having failed to remove "extremist content" and the distribution of what Russia calls "LGBT propaganda."

Russia calls the conflict in Ukraine a "special military operation."

Russia's Supreme Court ruled in November that LGBT activists should be designated as "extremists" in a move that representatives of gay and transgender people fear will lead to arrests and prosecutions.

Alphabet's YouTube has been a particular target of the Russian state's ire but, unlike Twitter and Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, it has not been blocked.

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