russia is demanding that Google pay a fine of 2.8 duodecillion rubles for removing propaganda channels from its YouTube platform. This is sited by several russian media sources. They write that according to the official estimates of the bankruptcy trustee, the debt is 2.8 duodecillion rubles (2 800 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000) and is still growing.
The fine has been accruing and doubling every week since 2020, after the propaganda news services Tsargrad and RIA FAN won court cases to block their YouTube channels.
Later, 15 other channels also won cases against Google. To put this in perspective, this amount is not only higher than Google's $2 trillion market value, it is larger than the entire global GDP, which the International Monetary Fund estimates to be $110 trillion in 2024.
In a comment to NBC News, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the amount "full of symbolism." He said that Google should not restrict its broadcasters and this "should be a reason for Google's management to pay attention to this and correct the situation".
As a reminder, on September 9, Google stopped registering accounts for russian mobile operators. This was reported by the russian media, as well as by russians who complained on social media.
