Russia fines Google more than world’s entire GDP for blocking YouTube accounts

Google has reportedly racked up a fine of more than two undecillion rubles – two followed by 36 zeros – after it removed state-run and pro-government accounts from YouTube.

Put another way, an undecillion is a trillion times a trillion times a trillion.

The fine is far greater than the world’s total GDP, estimated at $110 trillion by the International Monetary Fund.

Google – which owns YouTube – has a current stock market value of $2.16 trillion, so probably won’t be stumping up the cash any time soon.

The fine is also still growing due to non-payment and, if not paid within nine months, will start to double every day, reported state news agency Tass.

The mind-boggling amount has grown because Google hasn’t restored YouTube accounts belonging to 17 Russian TV channels, according to Russia’s RBC News.

It claims a judge in the case said at a hearing on 28 October that he was considering “a case in which there are many, many zeros”.

Google can reportedly only return to the Russian market if it complies with the court decision.

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The case was first filed privately in 2020 after the accounts of the Tsargrad TV channel and RIA FAN were blocked due to US sanctions laws, reported RBC.

It then escalated after the start of the Ukraine war when YouTube blocked accounts belonging to the likes of Sputnik and RT after which Russian authorities got involved.