Official statements from Google

Russian Court Fines Google 2 Undecillion Rubles—More Than World's GDP—for Blocking Media on YouTube

Oct 30, 2024, 02:48 PM

A Russian court has fined Google an astronomical sum of 2 undecillion rubles—a number with 36 zeros—equivalent to approximately $20 decillion, for blocking the YouTube accounts of 17 Russian state media channels. The penalty has been accumulating since a 2020 lawsuit filed by outlets such as Tsargrad and RIA FAN, and doubles every week due to Google's continued non-compliance. The fine exceeds the total wealth of the world and is seen as symbolic, as it is impossible for Google to pay an amount that surpasses the global GDP. Google's blocking of the channels was in response to international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the company is unlikely to comply with the court's demands.