The Russian government has imposed an unprecedented fine on Google, amounting to 2.5 decillion USD (2.5 x 10^33 USD), as reported by the Moscow Times. This staggering figure exceeds the total amount of money available on Earth, leading many to use scientific notation for clarity.
Given this astronomical figure, it’s clear that Google is unable to pay such a colossal fine, especially since its parent company, Alphabet, reported revenues of approximately 307 billion USD in 2023. This situation raises important questions about the reasoning behind the Russian government’s decision to impose such a substantial penalty.
The fine stems from Google’s YouTube platform blocking several Russian news accounts, including Channel One, Moscow Media, and Public Television of Russia, in the context of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. A Russian court mandated that Google restore these accounts and initially imposed a daily fine of 1,029 USD (or 100,000 rubles) for non-compliance, with this amount doubling each week if Google continues to refuse.
Despite the seemingly infeasible nature of the fine—larger than the global gross domestic product (GDP)—the Russian government has indicated a willingness to increase the penalty over time. In response, Google has largely withdrawn from the Russian market, particularly after its subsidiary filed for bankruptcy over a year ago.
Additionally, Russian media has initiated legal action against Google in multiple countries, including Spain, South Africa, Türkiye, and Hungary, to enforce the fine. Notably, South Africa has already approved a request to seize Google’s assets within its jurisdiction. In an attempt to mitigate the expansion of lawsuits from Russia, Google has also initiated its own legal proceedings in the United States and the United Kingdom.