Google has to pay a fine of two deciillion rubles. The Kremlin spokesman admitted that even he could not imagine such an amount. However, according to him, the fine hides symbolism.
Most people can orientate themselves in basic numbers and the number of zeros of the familiar million (6 zeros) or billion (9 zeros). It is a bit more difficult when imagining numbers that have more zeros. For example, a trillion has twelve zeros, a billiards has fifteen, and a trillion has zero to eighteen. In this context, the fine imposed on Google by Russia sounds like a bad joke or a mistake. The Russian courts awarded the company a fine in the astronomical amount of two deciillion rubles. That you haven’t even heard of such a number? Well, no wonder. A number with 36 zeros could be used to calculate the sum of the gross domestic product of all countries in the world. The fine imposed by Russia is so high that even Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that he “cannot even imagine such an amount.” According to him, however, it has a lot of symbolism.
Why did Google fall out of favor with the Kremlin? This is due to the restrictions Google has put in place against Russian state media on its YouTube platform. Google blocks content from several Russian state channels, including those that disseminate pro-Kremlin propaganda and government-sanctioned information. Although these restrictions began as early as 2020, the situation intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when many Western companies, including tech giants, decided to end or limit their activities in the Russian market.
As stated by the server BBCescalating tensions between Google and Russian authorities culminated in a court ruling on a fine that doubles every week until Google unblocks Russian channels. However, Google has not yet responded to this request, while Russian media regularly point out that the fine is constantly growing. As Peskov said, the symbolic meaning of the fine lies in the refusal to interfere with Russia’s sovereignty and its right to disseminate information in a way it deems appropriate. “Google should not limit the activity of our broadcasters on its platform,” Peskov said, while also hinting that it is important for Google to reconsider its decisions.
Source: vat.pravda.sk
