Google Fined RUB 7.2 Billion by Russian Court for Failing to Delete Illegal Content

Google said in an email it would study the court ruling before deciding on further steps.

By Reuters | Updated: 24 December 2021 17:53 IST

Google Fined RUB 7.2 Billion by Russian Court for Failing to Delete Illegal Content

Google has paid more than RUB 32 million (roughly Rs. 3 crore) in fines over content violations this year

Highlights

Russia has imposed small fines on foreign technology companies
Russia has ordered companies to delete posts promoting drug abuse
Moscow has also demanded that 13 companies to be set up on Russian soil

A Moscow court said it was fining Google RUB 7.2 billion (roughly Rs. 735 crore) for what it said was a repeated failure to delete content Russia deems illegal, the first revenue-based fine of its kind in Russia.

Moscow has increased pressure on big tech this year in a campaign that critics characterise as an attempt by the Russian authorities to exert tighter control over the Internet, something they say threatens individual and corporate freedom.

Google said in an email it would study the court ruling before deciding on further steps.

Google’s Treatment of Black Female Workers Said to Be Probed in US

Russia has imposed small fines on foreign technology companies throughout this year, but Friday's penalty marks the first time it has exacted a percentage of a company's annual Russian turnover, greatly increasing the sum of the fine.

It did not specify the percentage, although Reuters calculations show it equates to just over 8 percent.

Russia has ordered companies to delete posts promoting drug abuse and dangerous pastimes, information about homemade weapons and explosives, as well as ones by groups it designates as extremist or terrorist.

CES 2022: Google, Waymo, GM Cancel In-Person Attendance

Google, which has paid more than RUB 32 million (roughly Rs. 3 crore) in fines over content violations this year, is at odds with Moscow on a number of issues.

Russia has demanded it restore access to state-backed broadcaster RT's German-language channels.

Last week, a sanctioned Russian businessman claimed victory over Google in a court case that could see the tech giant hit with another heavy fine.

Moscow has also demanded that 13 foreign and mostly US technology companies, which include Google and Meta Platforms, be set up on Russian soil by January 1 or face possible restrictions or outright bans.

What are the best phones of 2021? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.