Google Fined RUB 7.2 Billion in Russia for Failing to Delete Unlawful Content material

A Moscow court docket mentioned it was fining Google RUB 7.2 billion (roughly Rs. 735 crore) for what it mentioned was a repeated failure to delete content material Russia deems unlawful, the primary revenue-based nice of its sort in Russia.

Moscow has elevated stress on large tech this yr in a marketing campaign that critics characterise as an try by the Russian authorities to exert tighter management over the Web, one thing they are saying threatens particular person and company freedom.

Google mentioned in an e-mail it will research the court docket ruling earlier than deciding on additional steps.

Russia has imposed small fines on international know-how corporations all through this yr, however Friday’s penalty marks the primary time it has exacted a proportion of an organization’s annual Russian turnover, drastically growing the sum of the nice.

It didn’t specify the share, though Reuters calculations present it equates to only over 8 p.c.

Russia has ordered corporations to delete posts selling drug abuse and harmful pastimes, details about do-it-yourself weapons and explosives, in addition to ones by teams it designates as extremist or terrorist.

Google, which has paid greater than RUB 32 million (roughly Rs. 3 crore) in fines over content material violations this yr, is at odds with Moscow on a variety of points.

Russia has demanded it restore entry to state-backed broadcaster RT’s German-language channels.

Final week, a sanctioned Russian businessman claimed victory over Google in a court docket case that might see the tech large hit with one other heavy nice.

Moscow has additionally demanded that 13 international and principally US know-how corporations, which embody Google and Meta Platforms, be arrange on Russian soil by January 1 or face attainable restrictions or outright bans.

© Thomson Reuters 2021