Russia fines Google greater than total world’s GDP | EUROtoday

A Russian courtroom has fined Google two undecillion roubles – a two adopted by 36 zeroes – for limiting Russian state media channels on YouTube.

In greenback phrases meaning the tech big has been informed to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Despite being one of many world’s wealthiest corporations, that’s significantly greater than the $2 trillion Google is value.

In truth, it’s far larger than the world’s complete GDP, which is estimated by the International Monetary Fund to be $110 trillion.

The wonderful has reached such a gargantuan stage as a result of – state information company Tass says – it doubles day-after-day it’s not paid.

According to Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he “cannot even pronounce this number” however urged “Google management to pay attention.”

The firm has not commented publicly or responded to a BBC request for a press release.

Russia media outlet RBC experiences the wonderful on Google pertains to the restriction of content material of 17 Russian media channels on YouTube.

While this began in 2020, it escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later.

That noticed most Western corporations pull out of Russia, with doing enterprise there additionally tightly restricted by sanctions.

Russian media retailers have been additionally banned in Europe – prompting retaliatory measures from Moscow.

This growth is the most recent escalation between Russia and the US tech big.

In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of limiting YouTube entry to Russian media retailerstogether with RT and Sputnik, and supporting “illegal protest activity”.

Then, in July, 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1bn rouble (£301m) for failing to limit entry to what it known as “prohibited” materials in regards to the struggle in Ukraine and different content material.

There is just about no press freedom in Russia, with unbiased information retailers and freedom of expression severely curtailed.