Russia fines google USD 2.5 decillion

Russia imposed a fine of USD 204.8 decillion (~2.5 trillion trillion trillion dollars) on Google, a sum that surpasses the total wealth ever accumulated globally, after a legal dispute over YouTube's ban of Russian pro-Kremlin and state-run media channels.

To put this into perspective, one decillion is equal to 1 followed by 33 zeros, making the fine not only astronomically high but also largely symbolic, given its impracticality for enforcement.

Google was initially fined a daily penalty of 100,000; the court said the amount would double every 24 hours if it went unpaid.

The conflict began in 2020 when YouTube banned channels such as Tsargrad and RIA FAN, citing violations of its content policies. These channels, known for their pro-Kremlin stances, challenged the bans in Russian courts and secured favorable rulings.

Despite these decisions, Google did not reinstate the channels, leading to the imposition of daily fines that doubled each week over a four-year period.

The situation intensified following Russia's special operation in Ukraine in 2022, prompting YouTube to ban additional Russian state-run media outlets.

In retaliation, Moscow imposed further fines on Google, culminating in the staggering USD 204.8 decillion penalty.

Afterwards, Google ceased operations in Russia in 2022 and filed for bankruptcy of its Russian subsidiary. Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, said that these legal challenges have not materially affected its global operations.