A Russian court has fined Google an unprecedented two undecillion roubles—roughly $20 decillion ($20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) —for limiting Russian state media on YouTube. The colossal sum is not only beyond Google’s $2 trillion valuation but far exceeds the world’s total GDP, estimated at $110 trillion.
The fine addresses Google’s restrictions on 17 Russian media channels since 2020, a dispute that intensified after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Western sanctions and the exit of foreign companies from Russia have led Google to halt most commercial operations there, with its local subsidiary declaring bankruptcy. Nevertheless, Google’s platforms, including YouTube, remain accessible in Russia, though now subject to intensifying scrutiny by Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the fine as “symbolic,” hinting it’s meant to pressure the company into reconsidering its content policies. Peskov admitted he “can’t even pronounce” the number yet urged Google to lift restrictions on state-affiliated media, making it clear Moscow expects compliance.
Thus far, Google has made no public comment on the fine. In recent years, Russian regulators have increased fines and penalties for tech firms accused of promoting “illegal protest activity” or blocking pro-Kremlin content. In 2022, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor fined Google 21.1 billion roubles for allegedly failing to restrict access to banned material, including content critical of Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
While YouTube is still operational, the Kremlin has repeatedly hinted it may ban the platform altogether if its policies don’t align with Russia’s media guidelines.
