A Russian court fined Google two billion rubles for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube.
A decimal number with 36 zeros – meaning the tech giant has been ordered to pay $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (£15.8 billion).
Despite being one of the wealthiest companies in the world, this figure is still significantly higher than Google’s $2 trillion value.
In fact, it is much larger than the world’s total GDP, estimated by the International Monetary Fund at $110 trillion.
The fine has reached such a huge level because – state news agency Tass said – it doubles every day it is not paid.
According to Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted he “can’t even pronounce this number” but called on “Google’s leadership to pay attention.”
The company did not comment publicly or respond to the BBC’s request for a statement.
Russian media outlet RBC reported The penalty on Google is related to restricting the content of 17 Russian media channels on YouTube.
Although this began in 2020, it escalated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years later.
That saw most Western companies pull out of Russia, with Business there is also tightly restricted by sanctions.
Russian media is also banned in Europe – prompted retaliatory measures from Moscow.
This development is the latest escalation between Russia and the US technology giant.
In May 2021, Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting Russian media’s access to YouTubeincluding RT and Sputnik, and supported “illegal protest activities”.
Then, in July 2022, Russia fined Google 21.1 billion rubles (£301 million) for failing to restrict access to what it called “prohibited” material about the war in Ukraine and other content.
There is virtually no freedom of the press in Russia, with independent press agencies and freedom of speech been severely cut back.
