Russia has fined Google an astonishing 20 undecillion rubles (equivalent to $2.5 decillion) for removing state-run and government YouTube channels following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
To put that into perspective, Google is facing a bill of $2.5 trillion trillion trillion—typed out, that’s $2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he couldn’t even pronounce such a colossal amount, describing it as symbolic.
According to Russian news agency TASS, the fine stems from violations of Russia’s administrative offenses code due to the banning of these YouTube channels. The report indicated that if Google fails to pay the fine within nine months, the penalty will double each day without any cap on the total amount. Additionally, Google will be prohibited from operating in Russia until the fine is paid.
The Kremlin has indicated that the massive fines against Google are primarily symbolic, aimed at pressuring the tech giant to reverse its restrictions on Russian YouTube channels. The total legal claims against Google in Russia have now reached two undecillion rubles—an amount greater than all the money in the world combined.
“I can’t even pronounce this number, but it is likely meant to be symbolic,” Peskov told Russian media. “Google should not restrict the actions of our broadcasters, but it does.”
Since launching its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has imposed heavy fines on social media companies accused of hosting content critical of the Kremlin or supportive of Ukraine. While YouTube remains accessible in Russia, authorities have repeatedly threatened to shut it down over the platform’s bans on state-owned Russian content.
Russian courts have consistently fined Google in an attempt to compel compliance with Moscow’s demands. The Kremlin has stated that Alphabet’s Google should lift its ban on Russian TV channels broadcasting on YouTube, hoping that the staggering legal claims against the company will prompt it to act.
In March 2022, Google ceased displaying ads to users in Russia and suspended monetization for content that was considered to exploit or endorse the war in Ukraine. Since then, it has blocked over 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news outlets, as well as more than 5.5 million videos.
This week, Russian business newspaper RBC reported that legal claims from 17 Russian TV channels against Google in Russian courts have led to fines based on Google’s turnover in the country, now amounting to two undecillion rubles—an unfathomably large number with 36 zeroes.
“These demands highlight the nature of our channels’ claims against Google,” Peskov said. “Google should not restrict the activities of our broadcasters, yet it continues to do so. Perhaps these enormous legal claims should serve as a wake-up call for Google’s management to address the situation.”
