The amount of fines imposed on Google by courts in Russia for removing channels belonging to Russian institutions and individuals from YouTube has reportedly exceeded $20 decillion.
Speaking to the Russian news agency TASS, legal expert Ivan Morozov said that administrative fines have been imposed on Google in the country for removing some channels from YouTube. Morozov, who pointed out that if the fines in question are not paid within 9 months, the amount doubles every day, said, “The court cannot cancel this fine, and since Google does not implement the decision, the fine must double every day.” Speaking to the Russian newspaper RBK, an unnamed lawyer conducting the lawsuit against Google also stated that the amount of compensation Google must pay to 17 Russian television channels as a result of the court decision exceeds $20 decillion. In recent years, Google has removed many channels belonging to Russian institutions and individuals from YouTube, including Russian state channels. The US-based company also initiated bankruptcy proceedings against its Russian subsidiary in 2022 on the grounds that it could not fulfill its financial obligations. Experts state that access to the company’s services may be blocked in Russia due to Google’s fines reaching an unpayable level. According to World Bank data, the size of the world economy in 2023 is approximately $105 trillion, while $20 decillion means quintillions of times this figure.
