### Russian Court Imposes Mind-Boggling $20.5 Decillion Fine on Google

In an unprecedented move, a Russian court has imposed a jaw-dropping fine of $20.5 decillion on Google, dwarfing the global GDP and surpassing the tech giant's $2 trillion market value. This astronomical penalty follows Google's alleged blocking of pro-Moscow propaganda channels on YouTube.

Initially, a $1 million fine was levied against Google four years ago for banning the pro-Kremlin YouTube channels, Tsargrad and RIA FAN. The court had warned that the fine would double daily until compliance was achieved. This punitive measure escalated into the eye-watering figure announced recently, along with an additional daily penalty of $1 million.

Google halted its Russian operations in 2022 in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The closure led its local subsidiary to declare bankruptcy, and over the summer, the company shut down its Google AdSense service in Russia. Consequently, local content creators in Russia have since been unable to receive monetization.

Despite withdrawing its operations, Google and its YouTube services remain accessible in Russia. However, in August, Moscow seized over $100 million from Google's bankrupt entity to bolster its war efforts in Ukraine. This sum was reportedly funneled to the very channels Google had restricted, including Tsargrad, which is owned by oligarch Konstantin Malofeev.

Google revealed in court documents that Tsargrad received 1 billion roubles from the seizure, explicitly earmarked to support Russia's military activities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Google continues to contest attempts by Russian broadcasters to enforce these colossal fines in other jurisdictions, including Turkey, South Africa, and Serbia.