Russia fines Google a record-breaking amount beyond imagination

The magnitude of the fine imposed on Google by Russia leaves the world speechless. For the first time, a sanction with 36 zeros descends upon a tech giant, defying any known economic measure. This insane amount, far exceeding the global GDP, marks an unprecedented step in the war for digital sovereignty. Through this unprecedented penalty, Russia denounces the removal of Russian media accounts and channels by Google on its YouTube platform, an action it considers a direct affront to its media sovereignty.

The reasons for a record sanction

On October 29, 2024, the Russian justice system imposed on Google an unseen fine, estimated at two undecillion rubles, or 36 zeros, a figure that borders on the absurd. This decision follows Google’s refusal to restore Russian media channels removed from YouTube, deemed pro-government. Among these channels, some broadcast content considered sensitive or strategic by the government of Vladimir Putin. In response to this decision, the Russian authorities accuse Google of “cyber-interference” in its internal affairs. The Russian Ministry of Communications had indeed demanded this summer that Google restore the affected channels and accounts, an injunction that went unheeded, which hastened the legal proceedings.

In parallel, this fine has been designed to be impossible to pay. Indeed, the amount far exceeds the global GDP, estimated at around 110 trillion dollars, a symbolic act that Russia intends to use to assert its authority. Roman Yankovsky, an analyst at the HSE Education Institute, points out that this sanction is more of a signal than a demand: “Google clearly will not pay this penalty, and the Russian Federation will not be able to recover this money from the company.” Thus, the goal is primarily political, as the government seeks to show that Russia will not tolerate interference from foreign entities in its digital space.

The implications and the message sent to tech giants

This unprecedented fine is also a deterrent weapon against large Western tech companies that, according to Moscow, impose their own rules on digital platforms operating in Russia. The Kremlin wants to send a message to multinationals, signaling that they cannot ignore laws and national interests under the threat of heavy sanctions. Moreover, the Russian legislative framework has tightened, aiming to guarantee strict control over the information disseminated to the Russian public. This means that Google and its peers will have to face an increasingly restrictive environment.

The situation puts Google in a dilemma. Even if the company were to consider paying, it would run into American sanctions, which prohibit transactions with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. This situation thus creates a deadlock for Google, which might be forced to reconsider its positioning in Russia. If this fine remains unpaid, Russia could then decide to restrict access to its services or to strengthen its local alternatives, accelerating the “balkanization” of the Internet.

Through this fine imposed on Google that even the numbers struggle to contain, Russia places digital sovereignty at the heart of its geopolitical strategy. This record sanction could well mark the beginning of an era where tech giants find themselves compelled to comply with local regulations under the threat of severe retaliation. For Google and its counterparts, this implies a crucial choice: adapt to the demands of the states in which they operate or risk outright exclusion from certain markets.