A Russian courtroom on Tuesday slapped Google with a $78 million nice for not complying with earlier penalties, the Moscow courts press service mentioned on Telegram.
For years, Russia has ordered international tech companies to delete content material it deems unlawful – issuing small fines with every penalty.
The nice towards Google on Tuesday is a major departure from the standard $39,000 demanded from rule-breaking corporations.
Google didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Chertanovo District Court docket in Moscow mentioned Google was issued the nice as a result of it did not adjust to a earlier penalty, although it didn’t specify which penalty.
Google’s YouTube video platform has drawn Russian disapproval for internet hosting content material the nation deems illicit.
YouTube used to draw round 50 million day by day customers in Russia – however that quantity has dropped to roughly 12 million, in response to Google knowledge.
Russia has been accused of tampering with YouTube’s obtain speeds to stop Russians from utilizing the platform and viewing unlawful content material.
Russia has denied this, saying the problems are Google’s – although the Alphabet-owned firm has mentioned the glitch is just not from their gear.
It’s not the primary time Russia has hit Google with an unusually massive nice.
In October, the nation fined Google $20 decillion – 20 adopted by 33 zeros — greater than the world’s complete GDP.
The nice – value excess of Google’s $2 trillion market worth – was extra of a symbolic determine, in response to the Kremlin.
“Although it is a specific amount, I cannot even say this number, it is rather filled with symbolism,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned in October.
On the time, Russian media outlet RBC reported that the nice is tied to YouTube blocking content material from at the least 17 Russian tv channels – a observe that picked up after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
