Russia fines Google $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Russia fined Google a record amount of $20 decillion. The fine, which equates to $20 billion trillion trillion, is due to the firm’s failure to unblock pro-Russian YouTube channels. This staggering figure, which is seven times the worth of the entire global economy’s $110 trillion GDP, has caused conspicuous tensions around the world and brought into sharp focus the growing tensions between the Western tech giants and the Russian authorities.
According to CNN, “Civil judgments that include compounding penalties have been imposed upon us in connection with disputes regarding the termination of accounts, including those of sanctioned parties,” Google said. “We do not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect (on earnings).”
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Google was cautious in how it responded but, in addition to stopping product development and sales in Russia, the firm continued to offer critical products such as Search and YouTube. This strategy was also different from other American tech companies that left the Russian market entirely. It became even more complicated when Google’s Russia affiliate went insolvent after the authorities froze the company’s bank accounts.
The Russian court ordered Google to unblock several banned YouTube channels In Russia, several channels have been banned since 2022, and penalties are imposed twice a week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as much during a press briefing where he also clarified that he had had trouble saying the number.
