Russia has fined Google US$20 decillion - more than the Earth’s total GDP - after YouTube removed pro-Kremlin TV channels from the platform.
The Russian court’s directive ordered Google to reinstate seventeen Russian TV channels which were banned from YouTube, including both state-owned channels and separate pro-Kremlin outlets.
“Google should not restrict the actions of our broadcasters, but it does. This should be a reason for Google's management to pay attention to this and correct the situation,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“I can’t even pronounce this number, but it is more likely imbued with symbolism,” he said.
The dispute was originally spurred by YouTube’s ban of Tsargrad TV and RIA FAN in 2020, Russian channels closely affiliated with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
YouTube also began blocking the accounts of Russian channels like RT and Sputnik after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The fine is 2.56 sextillion times Russia’s 2023 GDP, and 195.2 quintillion times the world’s total GDP.
The Russian court has also imposed a daily fine of US$1,025 on Google if it does not reinstate the channels within nine months. This fine would then double each week.
Google halted its advertising in Russia in March 2022, due to the invasion of Ukraine. It has blocked more than 1,000 Russian YouTube channels in total.
Azzet has contacted Google for comment.
Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) share price closed at $172.69, down from $176.14. Its market cap is $2.1 trillion.