Russia fines Google more than entire world's GDP

A Russian tribunal has fined Google 2 undecillion roubles - a 2 followed by 36 zeroes - for restricting Russian authorities media channels connected YouTube.

In dollar presumption that means the tech elephantine has been told to wage $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Despite being 1 of the world's wealthiest companies, that is considerably much than the $2 trillion Google is worth.

In fact, it is acold greater than the world’s full GDP, which is estimated by the International Monetary Fund to beryllium $110 trillion.

The good has reached specified a gargantuan level due to the fact that - state quality bureau Tass says - it doubles each time it is not paid.

According to Tass, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov admitted helium "cannot adjacent pronounce this number" but urged "Google absorption to wage attention."

The institution has not commented publically oregon responded to a BBC petition for a statement.

Russia media outlet RBC reports the good connected Google relates to the regularisation of contented of 17 Russian media channels connected YouTube.

While this started successful 2020, it escalated aft Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine 2 years later.

That saw astir Western companies propulsion retired of Russia, with doing concern determination besides tightly restricted by sanctions.

Russian media outlets were besides banned successful Europe - prompting retaliatory measures from Moscow.

This improvement is the latest escalation betwixt Russia and the US tech giant.

In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting YouTube entree to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protestation activity".

Then, successful July, 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1bn rouble (£301m) for failing to restrict entree to what it called "prohibited" worldly astir the warfare successful Ukraine and different content.

There is virtually nary property state successful Russia, with autarkic quality outlets and freedom of expression severely curtailed.