Google has reportedly incurred a staggering fine of over two undecillion rubles—equivalent to a two followed by 36 zeros—after removing state-run and pro-government accounts from YouTube.
To put it in perspective, an undecillion is a trillion times a trillion times a trillion. In dollar terms, this translates to a mind-blowing $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. This fine far surpasses the world’s total GDP, which the International Monetary Fund estimates at $110 trillion.
Google, the parent company of YouTube, currently has a market valuation of $2.16 trillion, making it highly unlikely that the tech giant will be able to pay the fine anytime soon. Moreover, the fine is still accumulating due to non-payment and, according to state news agency Tass, if it remains unpaid for nine months, it will start to double every day.
The astronomical fine has grown because Google has not reinstated YouTube accounts belonging to 17 Russian TV channels, as reported by Russia’s RBC News. During a hearing on October 28, a judge remarked that he was dealing with “a case in which there are many, many zeros.”
Google reportedly can only return to the Russian market if it complies with the court’s decision. The case initially started privately in 2020 when the accounts of Tsargrad TV channel and RIA FAN were blocked due to US sanctions laws, according to RBC.
This situation began in 2020 but significantly escalated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later. The invasion led to most Western companies withdrawing from Russia, and conducting business there became highly restricted due to sanctions.
In response, Russian media outlets were banned in Europe, prompting Moscow to take retaliatory measures. In 2022, Google’s local subsidiary in Russia was declared bankrupt, and the company ceased offering its commercial services in the country, including advertising. Despite these developments, Google’s products are not completely banned in Russia.
This latest fine represents the most recent escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and the US tech giant. In May 2021, Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, accused Google of restricting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting “illegal protest activity.”
Subsequently, in July 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1 billion rubles (£301 million) for failing to restrict access to what it deemed “prohibited” material about the war in Ukraine and other content. Russia has virtually no press freedom, with independent news outlets and freedom of expression severely curtailed.
