Russian Court Imposes Astronomical Fine of $20 Decillion on Google for YouTube Bans

A Russian court has imposed an unprecedented fine on Google, amounting to over $20 decillion (or 2 undecillion rubles) for the tech giant’s refusal to restore 17 Russian state-controlled TV channels on YouTube. This staggering figure, which includes channels such as Channel One, VGTRK, NTV, and the Ministry of Defense‘s Zvezda channel, is the result of a compounding penalty that doubles every week.

The dispute began in 2020 when Google blocked the YouTube channels of Tsargrad TV and RIA news agency due to US sanctions against their owners. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Google extended the ban to include dozens more Russian media accounts, including those of Sputnik and RT. The Russian broadcasters subsequently sued Google, demanding the restoration of their YouTube accounts.

The fine, which is calculated at 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,025) per day and doubles weekly, has ballooned to an astronomical amount. To put this into perspective, a decillion is a number with 33 zeros, and an undecillion has 36 zeros. The total fine now exceeds the estimated global GDP, making it practically impossible for Google to pay.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has expressed that it does not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect on the company. However, the battle is ongoing in courts globally as Russia seeks to enforce the ruling and seize Google’s assets in various jurisdictions.

The Moscow court’s decision allows Russian broadcasters to appeal to international courts, and lawsuits have already been filed in countries such as Türkiye, Hungary, and South Africa. Despite these efforts, Google remains confident that the fines will not significantly impact its operations.