In an unprecedented move, Russia has fined Google a staggering $20 decillion—a figure starting with 2 and followed by 34 zeroes—following YouTube’s ban on Russian state-run media channels. This astronomical fine, which far exceeds the entire global economy’s value, targets Google’s parent company Alphabet, holding it accountable for blocking Russian channels in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The ruling comes from a Russian court that found YouTube in violation of national broadcasting laws, demanding the restoration of banned state-backed channels like RT and Sputnik. Failure to comply within nine months could double the fine daily. The issue traces back to March 2022, when YouTube globally banned Russian state-run channels, citing content policies against material downplaying or trivializing violence.
Russia sees this ban as censorship and has intensified efforts to pressure foreign tech platforms that restrict pro-Russian content. Google faces ongoing legal battles, with over a dozen Russian media outlets demanding their channels’ reinstatement. Despite suspending most Russian operations after the Ukraine invasion, Google maintains partial services like YouTube and Search within Russia, though its Russian subsidiary filed for bankruptcy following the government’s seizure of its bank accounts.
The Kremlin has acknowledged the fine’s symbolic nature, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasizing Russia’s strong stance on media access. Since 2022, Russia has imposed several penalties on tech platforms seen as favoring pro-Ukrainian content, threatening YouTube with an outright ban if it persists in restricting Russian media access.
