Russia has issued a staggering fine of $20 decillion (a 2 followed by 36 zeroes to Google, marking one of the largest fines ever levied against a private company. This virtually inconceivable penalty comes after Google refused to reinstate certain YouTube accounts tied to Russian state media, a move that has drawn harsh responses from Russian authorities.
The fine was requested as two undecillion Russian Rubles translates to $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 in terms of US dollars.
The fine, as reported by various sources, is so large it dwarfs the world’s entire gross domestic product (GDP), estimated at $110 trillion. Experts note that the fine is largely symbolic and unpayable, exceeding Google’s valuation of approximately $2 trillion many times over. Nevertheless, Russia’s judicial system has imposed a strict nine-month payment window, after which the fine will reportedly double every day if left unpaid.
The Legal Context
This unprecedented penalty stems from Russia’s increasing demand for control over internet content, especially concerning Western platforms. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Russian authorities have insisted that tech companies comply with local censorship regulations. Google, which owns YouTube, has been under pressure to unblock channels accused of spreading what Russia considers “truthful” information about global events, while these same accounts have been criticized by the West as vehicles of propaganda.
Implications and Reactions
The fine is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by Google in Russia. In response to the invasion of Ukraine, Google curtailed most commercial operations within Russia and has since paused most of its services. Following the freezing of its bank accounts in Russia, Google’s local subsidiary declared bankruptcy, though some of its services, like search and YouTube, remain available.
Google has publicly acknowledged the ongoing legal challenges, but in recent earnings statements, the company expressed confidence that such cases would not materially impact its global financial performance. Nevertheless, the fine raises questions about Russia’s broader strategy with foreign tech firms and the future of the internet within its borders.