Russia fines Google $20.5 decillion for blocking YouTube channels

[midian182]

WTF?! Russia seems to take pleasure in handing out fines to Western tech companies, but the latest one seems a little excessive. According to reports, a court in the country has hit Google with a fine of two undecillion rubles over YouTube blocking access to Russian channels. That's about $20.5 decillion, quite a lot more than the estimated global GDP of $100 trillion.

YouTube was banning Russian channels even before Vladimir Putin's forces invaded Ukraine. In 2020, the service banned the Tsargrad TV channel and RIA FAN due to what Google said were violations of sanctions legislation and trade rules.

YouTube banned more of the nation's channels in 2022 following Russia's invasion of its neighbor, including RT, Sputnik, NTV, and more.

According to Russian language site RBC, 17 channels are suing Google over the bans. Russian courts previously ordered Google to restore the channels. If the company failed to do this within nine months, it would be fined 100,000 rubles ($1,025) for each day of non-compliance. The amount doubles every week until Google complies, with no limit on the total fine.

Putin's more of a Yandex guy

Thanks to compound interest, Google now owes two undecillion rubles. A decillion is a 1 followed by 36 zeros. It's the US equivalent of about 20.5 decillion dollars, with a decillion being a 1 followed by 33 zeros.

The judge in the case mentioned he was dealing with a case in which there are "many, many zeros," which is quite the understatement.

Seeing as Google parent Alphabet made $174 billion in gross profit in 2023, it appears Russia is trying to bankrupt the US giant. The report states that Russian media have appealed to courts in Turkey, Hungary, Spain, South Africa, and other countries to recognize and enforce court decisions made against Google in Russia.

In July 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1 billion roubles (~$373 million) over YouTube failing to remove videos that, among other things, allegedly promoted "extremism and terrorism." It said the video platform had not deleted "fakes" about the "special military operation" in Ukraine, thereby discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Also read: Russia skirts sanctions, acquires Nvidia and AMD chips through Dell servers from India

Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia and Google regularly clashed over issues ranging from where the company stored its data to not removing certain websites from search results.

Google doesn't seem too worried about the situation and having to pay more than the world's GDP. In its latest earnings statement, Alphabet said it had ongoing legal matters relating to Russia, but does not believe they will have a material adverse effect.

Masthead: Alexander Mils

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Russia fines Google $20.5 decillion for blocking YouTube channels

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Hey, if the West did stuff like this maybe corpos would actually behave. Just a thought.

 

[winjer]

Russia has become a parody of itself.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

The Judge (notably not “Russia”) is simply bad at math.

Doubling daily gets huge quickly.

It would have been better to start with a bigger number and a much smaller growth rate than 100% * 2^365 annual interest rate.

 

[magisys]

Did they played too much with Universal Paperclips?

 

[maxxcool7421]

It is like watching Jeffrey Dahmer try to sue Hitler

 

[Kirby1]

Hey, if the West did stuff like this maybe corpos would actually behave. Just a thought.

Maybe if the west fined a company more than the company is worth because it took down some propaganda channels?

Are you a Russian bot account or are you a crazy person?

Russia is running out of money to fund their illegal war. That's why they are doing this. Of course, Google is not going to pay them so it makes little difference.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Maybe if the west fined a company more than the company is worth because it took down some propaganda channels?

Are you a Russian bot account or are you a crazy person?

Russia is running out of money to fund their illegal war. That's why they are doing this. Of course, Google is not going to pay them so it makes little difference.

People complain CONSTANTLY that the "fines" the west hands out are far too small to make any sort of difference. Company breaks the law, makes 100 million, gets 1 million fine. That is not a deterrent, that is the cost of doing business.

Stop acting like an NPC and try engaging your brain for once.

If the west actually started fining companies amounts that would seriously hurt their bottom line, companies would behave, and yes, if you were to threaten a company with a fine that is more than they make in 10 years, that company WOULD stay in line. Because not doing so would mead destruction.

 

[Rumiku]

Maybe if the west fined a company more than the company is worth because it took down some propaganda channels?

Are you a Russian bot account or are you a crazy person?

Russia is running out of money to fund their illegal war. That's why they are doing this. Of course, Google is not going to pay them so it makes little difference.

I'm not exactly sure what makes their statement crazy. It's a perfectly valid point without any implications or attribution of inherit or explicit bias.

There is seemingly an infinite supply of examples where corporations have done harm directly and indirectly to people, environment, politically and to other businesses with nothing more than a slap on the hands (and often less). The term "cost of doing business" comes to mind.

If, however, the fine or punishment was stiff enough to "hurt", it would not take more than once or twice for all businesses out there to fall in line and follow the rule more closely. Society at large would benefit.

His point is truly salient and I agree with it enthusiastically. Does simply disagreeing with your point of view on an open forum in an act of discourse make me a Russian agent or mentally ill? I would hope not, as that would be crazy (of a conclusion).

 

[Kirby1]

People complain CONSTANTLY that the "fines" the west hands out are far too small to make any sort of difference. Company breaks the law, makes 100 million, gets 1 million fine. That is not a deterrent, that is the cost of doing business.

Stop acting like an NPC and try engaging your brain for once.

If the west actually started fining companies amounts that would seriously hurt their bottom line, companies would behave, and yes, if you were to threaten a company with a fine that is more than they make in 10 years, that company WOULD stay in line. Because not doing so would mead destruction.

I'm not exactly sure what makes their statement crazy. It's a perfectly valid point without any implications or attribution of inherit or explicit bias.

There is seemingly an infinite supply of examples where corporations have done harm directly and indirectly to people, environment, politically and to other businesses with nothing more than a slap on the hands (and often less). The term "cost of doing business" comes to mind.

If, however, the fine or punishment was stiff enough to "hurt", it would not take more than once or twice for all businesses out there to fall in line and follow the rule more closely. Society at large would benefit.

His point is truly salient and I agree with it enthusiastically. Does simply disagreeing with your point of view on an open forum in an act of discourse make me a Russian agent or mentally ill? I would hope not, as that would be crazy (of a conclusion).

The US government doesn't tell Google what videos it can or cannot keep at all, doing so would be illegal. Russia has no right to tell a US company that it has to host Russian propaganda, and fining Google more than the GDP of the entire world is obviously crazy on its own.

If you need someone to explain to you why this is crazy and stupid, you are actively trying to be illogical to push a Russian agenda.

Maybe an argument can be made the when the US government fines big companies the fines are often too small. But that has nothing to do with this..Russia trying to get money from Google for doing something that's not even remotely illegal so Russia fund it's illegal war is laughable. Anyone who defends this is obviously a Russian plant account.

 

[Gastec]

This somehow reminds me of flatearthers. If Google doesn't pay up on the double I can see Vladimir Solovyov threatening in prime time to launch Poseidon torpedos at Google's headquarters.

 

[Kirby1]

Russian inflation caused by the illegal invasion of Ukraine is so bad that Google can just wait a few months and by then the amount will be small.

"Russia's central bank on Friday raised its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 21%, citing consumer price increases considerably above its forecast and warning of ongoing high inflation risks in the medium term.

The key rate was taken up by 100 basis points to 19%

The Friday move exceeds the 100 basis-point hike expected by analysts and brings the institution's benchmark rate to its highest since February 2003, according to Reuters. It was last near similar levels in February 2022, when Russia's policymakers lifted it to 20% to soothe local markets within days of Moscow's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The bank struck a hawkish tone regarding further policy steps on Friday. In a briefing following the decision, Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said that the institution's board of directors had considered boosting the benchmark rate above 21% and leave open the possibility of further hikes at the next meeting in December, according to Google-translated comments carried by Russian state news agency Tass.

It noted annual seasonally adjusted inflation hit an average of 9.8% in September, up from 7.5% in August. It now anticipates the print will sit in a 8.0–8.5% range by the end of 2024 — and is running "considerable above" a July forecast of near 6.5-7.0%."

Russia's central bank raises key rate to 21% to rein in higher-than-forecast inflation

Russia’s central bank on Friday raised its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 21%, citing higher-than-forecast consumer price increases.

www.nbcnewyork.com

 

[unoficialoficial]

Poor Google
But don't worry, I have a valid solution. Print 10 billion ultra high quality counterfeit, yet indistinguishable from original, Russian Rubles in 2000 banknotes stacks. Then, discreetly distribute them over Moscow using stealth drones or balloons. This would likely induce hyperinflation...

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

People complain CONSTANTLY that the "fines" the west hands out are far too small to make any sort of difference. Company breaks the law, makes 100 million, gets 1 million fine. That is not a deterrent, that is the cost of doing business.

Stop acting like an NPC and try engaging your brain for once.

If the west actually started fining companies amounts that would seriously hurt their bottom line, companies would behave, and yes, if you were to threaten a company with a fine that is more than they make in 10 years, that company WOULD stay in line. Because not doing so would mead destruction.

Or if that company believed they're better off doing business everywhere except that country (like Google), then they'd do this instead. If complying with laws somewhere impacted their business everywhere, then they're very likely to simply leave.

In reality, Russia is fining obscene amounts because they want an excuse to legally seize any of Google's assets within the country. It's why they don't care about foreign copyright or IP anymore. Any company following sanctions is subject to the same treatment by Russia.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Or if that company believed they're better off doing business everywhere except that country (like Google), then they'd do this instead. If complying with laws somewhere impacted their business everywhere, then they're very likely to simply leave.

In reality, Russia is fining obscene amounts because they want an excuse to legally seize any of Google's assets within the country. It's why they don't care about foreign copyright or IP anymore. Any company following sanctions is subject to the same treatment by Russia.

Anymore? Have they ever? I remember using yandex to find copyrighted content back in high school.

I'd be curious if google actually has any assets left to seize. Russians dont see youtube ads anymore nor can they access paid google services. I dont think they have any offices or personnel left either.

Source

"Theme #1: “Russia is an Innocent Victim”

Russian government officials falsely portray Russia as a perpetual victim and its aggressive actions as a forced response to the alleged actions of the United States and our democratic allies and partners. To further these claims, Russia turns to one of its favorite labels to attempt to hit back: “Russophobia.” After invading Ukraine in 2014, the Russian government and state-controlled disinformation outlets began to accuse anyone who questioned Russia’s actions of being xenophobic Russophobes.

For example, Russia claims that the international community’s negative reaction to its invasion of an independent country was simply because people feared and hated Russia. According to the chart below, Russophobia was not an issue of major concern to the Russian Foreign Ministry or state-funded disinformation outlets until the Russian military invaded Ukraine. Claims of “Russophobia” persist across a range of topics and are employed whenever the Russian government wants to play the victim, when it is actually the aggressor."

TechSpot has even reported on this: https://www.techspot.com/community/...-election-says-microsoft.288794/#post-2104081

You dont disappoint, but this is boring. I've already read this. Show me something I havent heard yet. Got anything on the russian military that hasnt been covered by Lazerpig or the like yet?

 

[Kirby1]

Anymore? Have they ever? I remember using yandex to find copyrighted content back in high school.

I'd be curious if google actually has any assets left to seize. Russians dont see youtube ads anymore nor can they access paid google services. I dont think they have any offices or personnel left either.
You dont disappoint, but this is boring. I've already read this. Show me something I havent heard yet. Got anything on the russian military that hasnt been covered by Lazerpig or the like yet?

Source

Theme #2: Historical Revisionism

When history does not align with the Kremlin’s political objectives, Russian government officials and their proxy voices deny historical events or distort historical narratives to try to cast Russia in a more favorable light and serve its domestic and geopolitical agenda. For example, the 1939 non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which helped precipitate World War II, is politically inconvenient for the Putin regime. In 2020, in an attempt to minimize and rationalize Stalin’s decision to align himself with Hitler, Putin published a twisted version of the start of World War II, downplaying the Soviet role and shifting blame for the war to other countries. Russia often takes this a step further by labeling those who disagree with its twisted version of history as Nazis or Nazi sympathizers.

The Kremlin also applies this formula to the history of Ukraine’s statehood, NATO’s conduct during the collapse of the Soviet Union, its GULAG prison system, the famine in Ukraine known as Holodomor, and many other events where the Kremlin’s historical actions do not serve its current political goals.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Russia and their judgements...they just can't stop being the world's biggest clowns.

 

[takemaru]

They just basically banned Google's services from Russia.

 

[Liranan]

Stop acting like an NPC and try engaging your brain for once.

No time, they're too busy figuring out what a woman is to stop being an NPC.

 

[Liranan]

They just basically banned Google's services from Russia.

The loss! The wailing and gnashing of teeth that they blocked a CIA outfit.

 

[Kirby1]

The loss! The wailing and gnashing of teeth that they blocked a CIA outfit.

Source

Theme #3: “The Collapse of Western Civilization is Imminent”

Russia pushes the false claim that Western civilization is collapsing and has strayed from “traditional values” because it works to ensure the safety and equality of LGBTQI+ people and promotes concepts such as female equality and multiculturalism. The demise of Western civilization is one of Russia’s oldest disinformation tropes, with claims of “the decaying west” documented since the 19th century.

This “values”-based disinformation narrative evokes ill-defined concepts including “tradition,” “family values,” and “spirituality.” Russia argues it is the bastion of so-called “traditional values” and gender roles and serves as a moral counterweight to the “decadence” of the United States and Western countries. For example, President Putin has claimed the West has practically cancelled the concepts of “mother” and “father,” and instead has replaced them with “parent 1 and 2,” while Foreign Minister Lavrov wrote that Western students “learn at school that Jesus Christ was bisexual.”