In a legal battle between Google and Russia, a Russian court has fined the tech giant a staggering amount for failing to restore YouTube accounts linked to Russian TV channels. The fine, which has been increasing over the years, has now reached an astronomical figure of 2 undecillion rubles, equivalent to about $20.6 decillion.
The court order, as reported by the state-run TASS newswire, requires Google to reinstate the accounts of Russian media outlets on YouTube, a subsidiary of Google. However, Google's Russian entity filed for bankruptcy in 2022 as part of a larger exodus from Russia, leaving few avenues for the fine to be collected.
The fine amount far surpasses the world's GDP, which is estimated to be around $105 trillion, making it practically impossible for Google to pay. The dispute stems from Google's suspension of the accounts to comply with US sanctions, a move that led to legal claims from multiple Russian TV channels.
Despite the massive fine, Alphabet, Google's parent company, does not anticipate a significant impact on its financials. The company has mentioned the ongoing legal issues in its quarterly earnings reports, stating that it does not believe these matters will have a material adverse effect.
In light of the situation, experts have criticized the size of the fine as unreasonable and uncollectable given Google's limited presence and assets in Russia. The legal battle underscores the challenges faced by multinational corporations operating in politically complex environments where legal disputes can escalate to unprecedented levels.